NASA’s Artemis II mission has officially commenced, marking a historic moment as astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency embark on the first crewed mission to leave Earth’s orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion spacecraft is set to undertake a 10-day mission that will not involve landing on the Moon.
The crew will travel up to 252,799 miles (or 406,840 kilometers) from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by Apollo 13. During their journey, the astronauts will conduct a lunar flyby, capturing high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface.
Dr. Lori Glaze, a key figure in the Artemis program, stated, “Today, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have departed Earth orbit.” She emphasized the importance of this mission, noting that “each milestone we reach marks meaningful progress on the path forward for the Artemis program.”
In addition to their primary objectives, the crew may also catch a glimpse of Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), which is expected to make its closest approach to the sun on April 4, 2024. The comet, measuring approximately 1,300 feet (or 400 meters), is anticipated to experience extreme conditions as it nears the sun.
Karl Battams, an expert on comets, remarked, “Over the next few days, the comet is going to be experiencing the most hostile environment our solar system has to offer, and it will suffer accordingly.” He further predicted that the comet may disintegrate rapidly, leaving behind only a faint cloud of dust.
The Artemis II mission represents a significant step in NASA’s broader goals for lunar exploration and eventual human missions to Mars. As the crew embarks on this groundbreaking journey, the space community watches closely, eager for updates on their progress and the mission’s outcomes.
