NASA has shared a video of the far side of the Moon captured by Artemis II astronauts when they swung around it on day 6 of the mission. The stunning visuals show a never-before-seen side of the Moon that looks entirely different from what humans are used to seeing from Earth. The video shared on April 8 starts with the eclipse they saw after emerging from behind it. NASA captioned it, "It's not just a phase. Artemis II astronauts captured these views of the Moon as the Orion spacecraft flew around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026." The lunar surface is riddled with pockmarks and a few bright spots that can be seen in the video. It is much paler than the near side of the Moon. It shows thousands of craters, revealing the shots it has endured from cosmic rocks over billions of years. One particular visual shows the edge of our lunar satellite with a crescent blue Earth right behind it. Another photo for the ages is of Earth setting behind the Moon. It is a nod to the Apollo photo showing Earth rising.<h2>What astronauts saw on the Moon - Eclipse, Orientale and train of planets</h2>The visuals captured by Orion and the astronauts have captivated the world. Reacting to the visuals, netizens are expressing admiration for a world they see every day, yet remains a mystery. A user commented, "Far side of the Moon with no Earth glow in the frame. That's the view that makes every launch feel worth it—pure, unfiltered space staring back." The far side has always been assumed to be the dark side because it isn't illuminated by the Sun. But the photos show that it is anything but dark. Talking about the bright far side of the Moon, a user wrote, "Funny how we called it the 'dark side' all these years, turns out it was just out of sight, not out of light."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-love-you-to-the-moon-and-back-artemis-ii-crew-name-moon-crater-after-astronaut-s-wife-who-died-of-cancer-1775561481843">'Love you to the moon': Emotions run high as Artemis II crew name Moon crater after astronaut's wife who died of cancer</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s not just a phase 🌕 Artemis II astronauts captured these views of the Moon as the Orion spacecraft flew around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026. <a href="https://t.co/lT7245Gp28">pic.twitter.com/lT7245Gp28</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/2041690396586090592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>NASA shared eclipse and Earthset photos from Artemis II</h2>NASA also shared a photo of the eclipse that the astronauts saw after coming out from behind the Moon. The Moon can be seen fully dark as it covers the Sun entirely, with the corona visible. Mission commander Reid Wiseman talked about it in a livestream from Orion. He said, "We saw sights, Orientale (basin), all this that not even Apollo saw. The best part was that we just came out of the eclipse and saw an entire dark moon right out the window." He added, "We could see the planet train line up and all of us commented how excited we are to watch this planet become a two planet species." &nbsp;

Artemis II photos and videos: NASA shared a 1-minute 40-second video of the views of the Moon captured by astronauts on Orion. The video compiles stunning shots of the far side of the Moon, an eclipse and an Earthset. 

NASA has shared a video of the far side of the Moon captured by Artemis II astronauts when they swung around it on day 6 of the mission. The stunning visuals show a never-before-seen side of the Moon that looks entirely different from what humans are used to seeing from Earth. The video shared on April 8 starts with the eclipse they saw after emerging from behind it. NASA captioned it, "It's not just a phase. Artemis II astronauts captured these views of the Moon as the Orion spacecraft flew around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026." The lunar surface is riddled with pockmarks and a few bright spots that can be seen in the video. It is much paler than the near side of the Moon. It shows thousands of craters, revealing the shots it has endured from cosmic rocks over billions of years. One particular visual shows the edge of our lunar satellite with a crescent blue Earth right behind it. Another photo for the ages is of Earth setting behind the Moon. It is a nod to the Apollo photo showing Earth rising. What astronauts saw on the Moon - Eclipse, Orientale and train of planets The visuals captured by Orion and the astronauts have captivated the world. Reacting to the visuals, netizens are expressing admiration for a world they see every day, yet remains a mystery. A user commented, "Far side of the Moon with no Earth glow in the frame. That's the view that makes every launch feel worth it—pure, unfiltered space staring back." The far side has always been assumed to be the dark side because it isn't illuminated by the Sun. But the photos show that it is anything but dark. Talking about the bright far side of the Moon, a user wrote, "Funny how we called it the 'dark side' all these years, turns out it was just out of sight, not out of light." Also Read: 'Love you to the moon': Emotions run high as Artemis II crew name Moon crater after astronaut's wife who died of cancer

Artemis II photos and videos: NASA shared a 1-minute 40-second video of the views of the Moon captured by astronauts on Orion. The video compiles beautiful shots of the far side of the Moon, an eclipse and an Earthset.&nbsp;

'Not out of light...': NASA shares video compilation of far side of the Moon, riddled with pockmarks

Artemis II astronauts identified two unnamed craters on the Moon during their historic flyby and decided to name one of them after mission commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll. Speaking with mission control on Earth, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said that they had seen a "bright spot" on the Moon and they would like to name it after Wiseman's wife. The astronaut lost her to cancer in 2020 and is a single dad raising two daughters. "Our science team helped us out with a couple of relatively fresh craters on the moon that have not been previously named," Hansen said. He goes on to say that they would like to "propose a couple of potential names". "A number of years ago, we started this journey in our close-knit astronaut family, and we lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll. The spouse of Reid. The mother of Katie and Ellie. And we would like to call it Carroll," he says. Hansen added that the crater can also be seen from Earth as it moves during its transit. “It's a bright spot on the moon.”<h2>A warm hug in space</h2>Wiseman wipes his tears and goes on to hug Hansen as the other two also join in the embrace. They named the other crater Integrity, after their spacecraft. The video was shared by a spaceflight photographer and content manager, Jenny Hautmann, and quickly gained two million views. She also shared a photo of Wiseman with his wife from 2014, showing their daughters as well. The crater is located on the boundary of the near side and the far side of the Moon.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/artemis-ii-astronaut-a-single-dad-to-two-girls-reveals-he-has-told-them-what-to-do-if-he-dies-1775018063808">Artemis II astronaut, a single dad to two girls, reveals what he told them before leaving for the Moon</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Artemis II crew named a lunar crater after Commander Reid Wiseman&#39;s late wife, Carroll. What a beautiful and touching moment. I&#39;m not crying, you&#39;re crying 🤧 <a href="https://t.co/3D1qgxK0jB">pic.twitter.com/3D1qgxK0jB</a>&mdash; Jenny Hautmann (@JennyHPhoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennyHPhoto/status/2041217914842304713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Netizens get emotional after a Moon crater was named after Wiseman's late wife</h2>The post left netizens teary-eyed. One user wrote, "So this is what 'Love you to the moon and back' truly means." Another added, "How wonderful and appropriate to name a crater on the moon in honor of the wife of Commander Wiseman. &nbsp;Salute to Carroll Crater, a “bright spot on the moon.” &nbsp;That sounds just right." One wrote, "Carroll Crater. Has a 'ring' to it."&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/artemis-ii-mission-trump-speaks-to-artemis-ii-crew-after-historic-moon-flyby-1775547915916/embed&nbsp;Wiseman's wife was a nurse in a newborn intensive care unit and passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020. He has two teen daughters, Ellie and Katherine, whom he has been raising as a single dad. Before leaving for the mission, Wiseman shared that he had explained everything to them about what to do if something went wrong. He added that they understand that it is a risky mission, "but they also know the importance of exploration and that humanity needs to push beyond the unknown."

Artemis II astronauts shared an emotional moment in space when they decided to name a new crater on the Moon after Reid Wiseman's late wife. Carroll Crater is a bright spot on the Moon which can sometimes be seen from Earth.

Artemis II astronauts identified two unnamed craters on the Moon during their historic flyby and decided to name one of them after mission commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll. Speaking with mission control on Earth, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said that they had seen a "bright spot" on the Moon and they would like to name it after Wiseman's wife. The astronaut lost her to cancer in 2020 and is a single dad raising two daughters. "Our science team helped us out with a couple of relatively fresh craters on the moon that have not been previously named," Hansen said. He goes on to say that they would like to "propose a couple of potential names". "A number of years ago, we started this journey in our close-knit astronaut family, and we lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll. The spouse of Reid. The mother of Katie and Ellie. And we would like to call it Carroll," he says. Hansen added that the crater can also be seen from Earth as it moves during its transit. “It's a bright spot on the moon.” A warm hug in space Wiseman wipes his tears and goes on to hug Hansen as the other two also join in the embrace. They named the other crater Integrity, after their spacecraft. The video was shared by a spaceflight photographer and content manager, Jenny Hautmann, and quickly gained two million views. She also shared a photo of Wiseman with his wife from 2014, showing their daughters as well. The crater is located on the boundary of the near side and the far side of the Moon. Also Read: Artemis II astronaut, a single dad to two girls, reveals what he told them before leaving for the Moon

Artemis II astronauts shared an emotional moment in space when they decided to name a new crater on the Moon after Reid Wiseman's late wife. Carroll Crater is a bright spot on the Moon which can sometimes be seen from Earth.

'Love you to the moon': Emotions run high as Artemis II crew name Moon crater after astronaut's wife who died of cancer

Astronauts aboard the Artemis II have made history by traveling farther from Earth than any humans before, surpassing the record set during Apollo 13 in 1970. The milestone comes as the crew journeys around the far side of the Moon in NASA’s Orion spacecraft, marking a major step forward in deep-space exploration and future lunar mission plans.


 Artemis II Astronauts Break Record Farthest Distance From Earth Ever

Donald Trump spoke with Artemis II astronauts after their historic flyby of the Moon. The president said some things that left even the crew shocked. He used the occasion to praise his decisions about having Space Force and not closing down NASA.

'Are we going to close NASA' to Isaacman bromance: Trump's livestream with Artemis II astronauts

Four astronauts aboard Artemis II have set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space. At 12:56 pm CDT on Monday, the crew reached 248,655 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record held by Apollo 13. At its peak distance, the crew inside the Orion spacecraft will travel approximately 252,756 miles before beginning their journey back to Earth. Six days into the mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, continue capturing images of the Moon as they move farther away from Earth.&nbsp;“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. “Their dedication is about more than breaking records, it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/-we-ll-see-you-on-the-other-side-nasa-loses-communication-with-artemis-ii-crew-1775515597084">'We will always choose Earth': Mission Control reconnects with Artemis II after 40-minute blackout as Orion heads back toward Earth</a>&nbsp;The mission launched successfully on April 1 aboard NASA’s Space Launch System from Kennedy Space Center. After a series of orbital maneuvers, the spacecraft set its trajectory toward the Moon. Following the milestone, astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared an emotional message from space, “From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”&nbsp;During the mission, the crew also proposed names for two lunar craters, one after their spacecraft, Integrity, and another in honor of Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. These names will be submitted to the International Astronomical Union for approval. At their closest approach, the astronauts will come within about 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface, becoming the first humans to directly observe parts of its far side in decades. They are also expected to witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.&nbsp;NASA anticipates a temporary 40-minute communication blackout as the Moon blocks signals between the spacecraft and Earth via the Deep Space Network. Contact will resume once the spacecraft reemerges, reconnecting with mission control at Johnson Space Center. Throughout the flyby, onboard cameras and handheld devices will capture high-resolution images of the lunar surface, including areas never seen before by human eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The data collected, from imagery to telemetry, will help shape future Artemis missions and plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon. The Artemis II crew is now more than halfway through its mission and is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on April 10. Recovery teams will transport the astronauts to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks before returning them to NASA facilities. As part of the Artemis program, NASA aims to conduct increasingly complex missions, paving the way for long-term lunar exploration and eventual human missions to Mars.

Artemis II leaves Apollo 13 behind, sets new human spaceflight record

Four astronauts aboard Artemis II have set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space. At 12:56 pm CDT on Monday, the crew reached 248,655 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record held by Apollo 13. At its peak distance, the crew inside the Orion spacecraft will travel approximately 252,756 miles before beginning their journey back to Earth. Six days into the mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, continue capturing images of the Moon as they move farther away from Earth. “At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. “Their dedication is about more than breaking records, it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base.” Also Read: 'We will always choose Earth': Mission Control reconnects with Artemis II after 40-minute blackout as Orion heads back toward Earth The mission launched successfully on April 1 aboard NASA’s Space Launch System from Kennedy Space Center. After a series of orbital maneuvers, the spacecraft set its trajectory toward the Moon. Following the milestone, astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared an emotional message from space, “From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.” During the mission, the crew also proposed names for two lunar craters, one after their spacecraft, Integrity, and another in honor of Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. These names will be submitted to the International Astronomical Union for approval. At their closest approach, the astronauts will come within about 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface, becoming the first humans to directly observe parts of its far side in decades. They are also expected to witness a solar eclipse as the Moon passes in front of the Sun. NASA anticipates a temporary 40-minute communication blackout as the Moon blocks signals between the spacecraft and Earth via the Deep Space Network. Contact will resume once the spacecraft reemerges, reconnecting with mission control at Johnson Space Center. Throughout the flyby, onboard cameras and handheld devices will capture high-resolution images of the lunar surface, including areas never seen before by human eyes. The data collected, from imagery to telemetry, will help shape future Artemis missions and plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon. The Artemis II crew is now more than halfway through its mission and is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on April 10. Recovery teams will transport the astronauts to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks before returning them to NASA facilities. As part of the Artemis program, NASA aims to conduct increasingly complex missions, paving the way for long-term lunar exploration and eventual human missions to Mars.

Artemis II astronauts break the record for farthest human spaceflight, surpassing Apollo 13 while advancing NASA’s plans for Moon and Mars missions

Astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have resumed communications with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston after emerging from behind the Moon. The anticipated communications blackout lasted approximately 40 minutes. With Orion now having completed its journey around the Moon, the spacecraft has officially begun its return trip to Earth. NASA astronaut Christina Koch shared her reflections following the blackout, commemorating the moment.&nbsp;She said, "It is so great to hear from Earth again,” Koch said. “To Asia, Africa, and Oceania, we are looking back at you. We hear you. You can look up and see the moon right now. We see you, too. When we burned this burn towards the moon, I said that we do not leave Earth. That is true. We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers, we will do radio astronomy, we will found companies. We will bolster industry, we will inspire. But ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”&nbsp;The crew witnessed Earthrise, the breathtaking view of Earth appearing over the Moon, echoing what Apollo astronauts saw in 1968. They also observed fleeting flashes from meteor impacts on the lunar surface and, during Earthrise, noticed dust hovering above the Moon’s edge, a mysterious phenomenon that scientists have yet to fully explain.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/artemis-ii-lunar-flyby-40-minute-silence-will-leave-astronauts-floating-with-no-contact-1775461075445">Artemis II 40-minute silence: When astronauts will be left floating in space with no contact</a><h2>Artemis astronauts break space distance record</h2>The four astronauts on NASA's lunar flyby became the humans to travel the farthest from Earth on Monday, as they commenced the lunar observations central to their mission. The Artemis II crew has now broken the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission and is expected to extend it by 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach the mission’s projected maximum distance of 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers) from Earth later on Monday. "For all humanity, you're pushing beyond that frontier," said Jenni Gibbons at Houston's mission control.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/artemis-ii-loses-signal-nasa-crew-to-disappear-behind-moon-for-40-minutes-1775503756873/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/artemis-ii-loses-signal-nasa-crew-to-disappear-behind-moon-for-40-minutes-1775503756873/embed</a>

'We will always choose Earth': Mission Control reconnects with Artemis II after 40-minute blackout as Orion heads back toward Earth

Astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have resumed communications with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston after emerging from behind the Moon. The anticipated communications blackout lasted approximately 40 minutes. With Orion now having completed its journey around the Moon, the spacecraft has officially begun its return trip to Earth. NASA astronaut Christina Koch shared her reflections following the blackout, commemorating the moment. She said, "It is so great to hear from Earth again,” Koch said. “To Asia, Africa, and Oceania, we are looking back at you. We hear you. You can look up and see the moon right now. We see you, too. When we burned this burn towards the moon, I said that we do not leave Earth. That is true. We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers, we will do radio astronomy, we will found companies. We will bolster industry, we will inspire. But ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.” The crew witnessed Earthrise, the breathtaking view of Earth appearing over the Moon, echoing what Apollo astronauts saw in 1968. They also observed fleeting flashes from meteor impacts on the lunar surface and, during Earthrise, noticed dust hovering above the Moon’s edge, a mysterious phenomenon that scientists have yet to fully explain. Also Read: Artemis II 40-minute silence: When astronauts will be left floating in space with no contact Artemis astronauts break space distance record The four astronauts on NASA's lunar flyby became the humans to travel the farthest from Earth on Monday, as they commenced the lunar observations central to their mission. The Artemis II crew has now broken the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission and is expected to extend it by 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach the mission’s projected maximum distance of 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers) from Earth later on Monday. "For all humanity, you're pushing beyond that frontier," said Jenni Gibbons at Houston's mission control. https://www.wionews.com/videos/artemis-ii-loses-signal-nasa-crew-to-disappear-behind-moon-for-40-minutes-1775503756873/embed

Artemis II astronauts reestablish contact after a 40-minute lunar blackout, with Christina Koch reflecting, “We will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”

The Artemis II crew will be out of touch with mission control back on Earth for 40 minutes when Orion flies behind the far side of the Moon. It will be an isolating experience during which time the astronauts will be fully focused on observing the Moon. 

Artemis II 40-minute silence: When astronauts will be left floating in space with no contact

The Artemis II crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—are making history as they race to set a new distance record from Earth while orbiting the Moon. During the mission, astronauts are also capturing unprecedented views of the Moon’s far side, testing life-support systems, suit operations, and mobility in microgravity to prepare for future deep-space exploration. 

Artemis II Astronauts Race to Set a New Distance Record From Earth and Behold the Moon's Far Side

NASA’s Artemis II mission is approaching the Moon, marking a historic step in humanity’s return to deep space exploration. While the crew continues to achieve key mission milestones aboard the Orion spacecraft, engineers are closely monitoring minor technical issues, including a reported toilet system glitch and communication checks from Mission Control.


Artemis II Nears Moon, Balances Milestones & Malfunctions, Toilet Glitch Reported 

NASA’s Artemis II mission continues its historic journey deeper into space as the Orion spacecraft edges closer to the Moon’s far side, marking a key milestone in humanity’s return to lunar exploration. In a parallel scientific effort, NASA has launched the Avatar Biology Test in deep space to study how living systems respond to long-duration spaceflight conditions. The findings are expected to support future crewed lunar missions and eventual human journeys to Mars.


Artemis II Edges Closer to Moon's Far Side | NASA Launches Avatar Biology Test in Deep Space 

NASA has successfully fired the main engine of the Artemis II Orion capsule, marking a critical milestone in the mission’s journey toward the Moon. The key engine burn helped place the spacecraft on a precise lunar trajectory, demonstrating the capsule’s propulsion performance and mission readiness.


US Space Agency Successfully Fires Artemis II Capsule Engine

NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completed a key separation milestone during the Artemis II mission sequence, marking another major step toward returning humans to the Moon. Artemis II is designed to test critical deep-space systems with astronauts onboard before future lunar landing missions under the Artemis program.


Artemis II Edges Closer To The Moon's Far Side

NASA Artemis II toilet: Astronaut Christina Koch fixed the toilet on Orion after reaching space. She said in a livestream that she was the space plumber and was proud of it. The crew also shared their sleeping arrangements, with one of them hanging upside-down for naps.

'Space plumber' Christina Koch on Orion toilet trouble and sleeping 'like a bat'

The Artemis II spacecraft is on its way to the Moon after Orion's main engine fired for five minutes and 50 seconds beginning at 7:49 pm EDT. This completed the translunar injection (TLI) burn, which has put the spacecraft on track to leave Earth's orbit and gave a forceful push towards the Moon. "Orion’s main engine provides up to 6,000 pounds of thrust, enough to accelerate a car from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.7 seconds," NASA said. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are on board Orion and later shared their experience of the TLI, which was pretty "intense", Wiseman, the mission commander, said in the first live stream from space. "The translunar injection was a pretty intense moment," Wiseman said, with Christina adding that things started falling around them because of the force with which the injection happens.&nbsp;The livestream from Orion saw all four astronauts huddled in a pretty tight space. They shared the experience they had following the launch, the work they did, and how they are sleeping, among other things. Victor Glover said they were surprised when the mission launched on Day 1 itself. He said that the engineers and the launch team had been working for weeks. Christina said the launch was smoother than they expected. "One of the biggest surprises was how smooth the launch felt," Koch said. Speaking of the mission's significance, Wiseman said that what humans have achieved with this task is huge. Speaking en route to the Moon, he said, "There is nothing normal about this setting for humans. We are 250,000 miles away, and that is a herculean effort. We are just now realising the gravity of it all."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/artemis-ii-astronauts-microsoft-outlook-problem-in-space-memes-1775188359700">'Blue screen of...': Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem in space</a><h2>How is Artemis II crew sleeping on Orion?</h2>The crew also talked about what they have been doing on the capsule since the launch. They shared they have been pretty busy and had a meal together after several hours. Wiseman shared they are trying to get comfortable with their nap positions, with Koch "sleeping like a bat", hanging upside down. She said it was "a comfortable position for her" and would remain there if no one “kicks her out.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artemis-ii-timeline-when-will-orion-reach-moon-1775100037747">Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon?</a><h2>Artemis II astronauts tell what Earth looks like from space&nbsp;</h2>The crew saw the whole Earth from one window of the capsule, which felt surreal. Talking about what Earth looked like from above, Glover said, "We want to tell everyone that you look amazing. You look like one thing. We are all one people." He added, "We've got to give ourselves a mission we can hold on to for the rest of our lives. This has happened when we have differences. Imagine what we can do when we put those differences aside and come together."&nbsp;Artemis II Orion is scheduled to reach the Moon on April 6, from where it will carry out a lunar flyby and return home using the Moon's gravity.

Artemis II live stream from space: Orion left Earth orbit after a translunar injection (TLI) burn was completed, putting the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon. Astronauts shared from space what Earth looked like and what a herculean effort the mission is.

The Artemis II spacecraft is on its way to the Moon after Orion's main engine fired for five minutes and 50 seconds beginning at 7:49 pm EDT. This completed the translunar injection (TLI) burn, which has put the spacecraft on track to leave Earth's orbit and gave a forceful push towards the Moon. "Orion’s main engine provides up to 6,000 pounds of thrust, enough to accelerate a car from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.7 seconds," NASA said. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are on board Orion and later shared their experience of the TLI, which was pretty "intense", Wiseman, the mission commander, said in the first live stream from space. "The translunar injection was a pretty intense moment," Wiseman said, with Christina adding that things started falling around them because of the force with which the injection happens. The livestream from Orion saw all four astronauts huddled in a pretty tight space. They shared the experience they had following the launch, the work they did, and how they are sleeping, among other things. Victor Glover said they were surprised when the mission launched on Day 1 itself. He said that the engineers and the launch team had been working for weeks. Christina said the launch was smoother than they expected. "One of the biggest surprises was how smooth the launch felt," Koch said. Speaking of the mission's significance, Wiseman said that what humans have achieved with this task is huge. Speaking en route to the Moon, he said, "There is nothing normal about this setting for humans. We are 250,000 miles away, and that is a herculean effort. We are just now realising the gravity of it all." Also Read: 'Blue screen of...': Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem in space How is Artemis II crew sleeping on Orion? The crew also talked about what they have been doing on the capsule since the launch. They shared they have been pretty busy and had a meal together after several hours. Wiseman shared they are trying to get comfortable with their nap positions, with Koch "sleeping like a bat", hanging upside down. She said it was "a comfortable position for her" and would remain there if no one “kicks her out.” Also Read: Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon? Artemis II astronauts tell what Earth looks like from space The crew saw the whole Earth from one window of the capsule, which felt surreal. Talking about what Earth looked like from above, Glover said, "We want to tell everyone that you look amazing. You look like one thing. We are all one people." He added, "We've got to give ourselves a mission we can hold on to for the rest of our lives. This has happened when we have differences. Imagine what we can do when we put those differences aside and come together." Artemis II Orion is scheduled to reach the Moon on April 6, from where it will carry out a lunar flyby and return home using the Moon's gravity.

Artemis II live stream from space: Orion left Earth orbit after a translunar injection (TLI) burn was completed, putting the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon. Astronauts shared from space what Earth looked like and what a herculean effort the mission is.

'Nothing normal about this': Artemis II astronauts on having humans 250,000 miles away in space

Artemis II witnessed some problems before and after the launch. There were battery overheating issues and a momentary communication dropout after the rocket took off. Here is all that went wrong with Artemis II.

Artemis II problems: Everything that went wrong before and after launch, including the Outlook trouble

Turns out, even a NASA mission isn't immune to Microsoft problems. Astronauts on Artemis II faced a problem with the email platform Outlook, triggering a meme fest. Seven hours after launch, Reid Wiseman, the mission’s commander, reported the problem with the email app to the Houston-based mission control. According to the message, there were "two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working". He asked them "to remote in and check the Optimus and those two Outlooks." Mission control told Wiseman that they would join through the shuttle’s personal computing device, the specialised tablets on board the capsule, to fix the problem. It is not known whether the problem was fixed or is still ongoing. According to Engadget, Wiseman has a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and the Artemis II livestream hasn't shown a resolution to the Outlook issue yet. The astronauts had the Outlook (New) and Outlook (Classic) apps installed, but neither of them opened.&nbsp;Microsoft Outlook malfunctioning in space has left people rolling their eyeballs and laughing at a problem they are all too familiar with on Earth. Earlier, the astronauts faced a problem with the toilet, which had to be affixed manually after the launch. The NASA livestream also showed Wiseman punching in his PIN on the tablet, exposing a security detail that was caught by eagle-eyed netizens. The string of gaffes and troubles soon after launch has left people rolling with laughter. Talking about the Microsoft problem, a user posted a clip from the comedy series Space Force where engineers can be seen battling a Microsoft update problem. The spacecraft is about to loop back in 11 minutes, and just then, the system decided to auto-update and will take 45 minutes, the clip from the series shows. The clip was captioned, "No freaking way microsoft recreate this in real life. WILD."&nbsp;<h2>Watch the clip here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">no freaking way microsoft recreate this in real life WILD 😭😭😂 <a href="https://t.co/4hbjXIXP8G">https://t.co/4hbjXIXP8G</a> <a href="https://t.co/q8tyMISRxk">pic.twitter.com/q8tyMISRxk</a>&mdash; JNS (@_devJNS) <a href="https://twitter.com/_devJNS/status/2039758959767109740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another user compared going to space with working from home. "First the toilet breaks and now their email isnt opening. going to the moon is a functionally identical experience to working from home," the person wrote. Another commented, "We are all just like NASA with the same problems, lol. Why there were ever 2 Outlooks still perplexes me."&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“I have two versions of outlook and neither of them are working” is actually a generational NASA quote now. Not quite One Small Step but every generation lives in a different world <a href="https://t.co/T1WvlvRRiy">https://t.co/T1WvlvRRiy</a>&mdash; Grant Tremblay (@astrogrant) <a href="https://twitter.com/astrogrant/status/2039846347507912908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/8IieePvbY8">pic.twitter.com/8IieePvbY8</a>&mdash; GenX Apathy (@genx_apathy) <a href="https://twitter.com/genx_apathy/status/2039714313078702261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Sorry but your (credit card) payment is rejected. Co-pilot is only available to paying customers.&quot; &quot;Sorry but your location is unknown. Co-pilot 365 is not available in your territories.&quot;&mdash; Schrodinger’s F1 Team (@F1asean) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1asean/status/2039893924362473947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hilarious that they went with outlook. Hope their other design decisions were better considered.&mdash; a Tony (@arealhumantony) <a href="https://twitter.com/arealhumantony/status/2039729110918774909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s incredible how Microsoft has managed to destroy the functionality of something so simple as e-mail. We had it all figured out as of like 1993.&mdash; Billy Pandos (@billyp258) <a href="https://twitter.com/billyp258/status/2039710149263163599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">first the toilet breaks and now their email isnt opening. going to the moon is a functionally identical experience to working from home <a href="https://t.co/mScePorsil">https://t.co/mScePorsil</a>&mdash; doomer (@uncledoomer) <a href="https://twitter.com/uncledoomer/status/2039724272952734092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;One comment read, "Hilarious that they went with outlook. Hope their other design decisions were better considered." Another hilarious comment read, "Outlook's like that one friend who always cancels plans right at the last minute."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Artemis II astronauts faced a Microsoft Outlook problem in space, and the internet cannot believe NASA chose the email app for a moon mission. Astronaut Reid Wiseman told mission control that there were two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of them was working.

Turns out, even a NASA mission isn't immune to Microsoft problems. Astronauts on Artemis II faced a problem with the email platform Outlook, triggering a meme fest. Seven hours after launch, Reid Wiseman, the mission’s commander, reported the problem with the email app to the Houston-based mission control. According to the message, there were "two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working". He asked them "to remote in and check the Optimus and those two Outlooks." Mission control told Wiseman that they would join through the shuttle’s personal computing device, the specialised tablets on board the capsule, to fix the problem. It is not known whether the problem was fixed or is still ongoing. According to Engadget, Wiseman has a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and the Artemis II livestream hasn't shown a resolution to the Outlook issue yet. The astronauts had the Outlook (New) and Outlook (Classic) apps installed, but neither of them opened. Microsoft Outlook malfunctioning in space has left people rolling their eyeballs and laughing at a problem they are all too familiar with on Earth. Earlier, the astronauts faced a problem with the toilet, which had to be affixed manually after the launch. The NASA livestream also showed Wiseman punching in his PIN on the tablet, exposing a security detail that was caught by eagle-eyed netizens. The string of gaffes and troubles soon after launch has left people rolling with laughter. Talking about the Microsoft problem, a user posted a clip from the comedy series Space Force where engineers can be seen battling a Microsoft update problem. The spacecraft is about to loop back in 11 minutes, and just then, the system decided to auto-update and will take 45 minutes, the clip from the series shows. The clip was captioned, "No freaking way microsoft recreate this in real life. WILD." Watch the clip here

Artemis II astronauts faced a Microsoft Outlook problem in space, and the internet cannot believe NASA chose the email app for a moon mission. Astronaut Reid Wiseman told mission control that there were two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of them was working.

'Blue screen of...': Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem in space

A new chapter in space exploration is unfolding as NASA prepares for the next big leap with Artemis II. The Orion spacecraft has successfully separated and is now orbiting Earth with astronauts onboard, marking a crucial step toward future lunar landings. With just days to go, the mission is reigniting global excitement about humanity’s return to the Moon.


Artemis II Countdown Begins: NASA’s Orion Sets Stage For Historic Return To The Moon 

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, marks humanity’s return to deep space nearly 55 years after the Apollo missions. The 10-day journey, launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, carries astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar flyby. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II cannot receive fresh provisions, making its food system essential. &nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II has no option for resupply or fresh food, so every item aboard must be shelf-stable, safe, and compatible with microgravity. To meet these constraints, NASA designed a menu that balances nutritional requirements, morale, and operational practicality. Each astronaut has carefully selected meals tested during preflight to ensure ease of preparation, proper calorie intake, and suitability for life beyond Earth orbit.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cake-cookies-bbq-brisket-in-space-inside-nasa-s-189-item-menu-for-artemis-ii-s-10-day-mission-1775121196827">Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? Inside NASA’s 189-item menu for Artemis II’s 10-day mission</a>&nbsp;The crew participated in preflight testing to help select meals, ensuring that calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake were all carefully balanced. Main entrées consist of tortillas, wheat flatbread, vegetable quiche, breakfast sausage, couscous with nuts, mango salad, granola with blueberries, almonds, cashews, barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, spicy green beans, macaroni and cheese, tropical fruit salad, butternut squash, and cauliflower. Desserts feature chocolate pudding cake, maple cream cookies, cobbler, and candy-coated almonds. Yet, despite the carefully curated menu of 189 items, some common food staples, like breads, salt, and pepper, are intentionally excluded, reflecting the unique challenges of preparing and consuming food in microgravity.<h2>Why Bread, Salt and Pepper Are Banned</h2>Flour tortillas have long replaced traditional bread in space, first introduced on shuttle missions in 1985. Their low crumb count prevents particles from floating freely in microgravity, which could interfere with instruments or clog ventilation systems. Similarly, salt and pepper are excluded, as loose grains would not settle on food and could contaminate cabin air, posing safety risks. Polyethylene dropper bottles provide bulk supplies of liquid seasonings: pepper suspended in oil and salt dissolved in water.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Artemis II crew has successfully completed the proximity operations demonstration! This test allows the astronauts to practice piloting Orion similarly to how they would if they were docking with another spacecraft — an important early test objective for the mission. <a href="https://t.co/5FzBI96Lu3">pic.twitter.com/5FzBI96Lu3</a>&mdash; NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAArtemis/status/2039548883550822689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Additionally, carbonated drinks are banned as bubbles don’t separate in microgravity, causing ‘wet burps,’ while alcohol is prohibited due to impairment risks and potential damage to water recycling systems.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/toilet-trouble-in-space-what-went-wrong-with-artemis-ii-s-toilet-how-it-was-fixed-1775123659797">Toilet trouble in space: What went wrong with Artemis II’s toilet, how it was fixed?</a>&nbsp;NASA uses freeze-dried, thermostabilised, and irradiated foods, combined with pre-measured powdered seasonings and beverages for precise, safe consumption. Drinks, including coffee, tea, orange juice, lemonade, and apple cider arrive in foil-sealed pouches with septum adapters that interface with Orion’s potable water dispenser. This allows astronauts to rehydrate beverages directly without spillage. Each meal is carefully portioned and packaged to maintain nutritional balance, ensure ease of handling, and prevent contamination, enabling the crew to consume all items safely throughout the 10-day Artemis II mission.<h2>Eating in Orbit: Trays, Utensils and Cleanup</h2>Astronauts use meal trays strapped to their laps or fixed to the wall to manage multiple dishes simultaneously. This replicates a conventional dining experience while preventing food containers from floating away. After meals, containers are disposed of in the trash compartment beneath the middeck floor. Utensils and trays are cleaned using premoistened sanitising towelettes. This careful orchestration of meal planning, preparation, and cleanup allows the Artemis II crew to enjoy 189 menu items safely, maintaining nutrition and comfort throughout their 10-day lunar journey.

NASA's Artemis 2 mission launched April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon in an Orion capsule. 

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis programme, marks humanity’s return to deep space nearly 55 years after the Apollo missions. The 10-day journey, launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, carries astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a lunar flyby. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II cannot receive fresh provisions, making its food system essential. Unlike missions to the International Space Station, Artemis II has no option for resupply or fresh food, so every item aboard must be shelf-stable, safe, and compatible with microgravity. To meet these constraints, NASA designed a menu that balances nutritional requirements, morale, and operational practicality. Each astronaut has carefully selected meals tested during preflight to ensure ease of preparation, proper calorie intake, and suitability for life beyond Earth orbit. ALSO READ: Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? Inside NASA’s 189-item menu for Artemis II’s 10-day mission The crew participated in preflight testing to help select meals, ensuring that calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake were all carefully balanced. Main entrées consist of tortillas, wheat flatbread, vegetable quiche, breakfast sausage, couscous with nuts, mango salad, granola with blueberries, almonds, cashews, barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, spicy green beans, macaroni and cheese, tropical fruit salad, butternut squash, and cauliflower. Desserts feature chocolate pudding cake, maple cream cookies, cobbler, and candy-coated almonds. Yet, despite the carefully curated menu of 189 items, some common food staples, like breads, salt, and pepper, are intentionally excluded, reflecting the unique challenges of preparing and consuming food in microgravity. Why Bread, Salt and Pepper Are Banned Flour tortillas have long replaced traditional bread in space, first introduced on shuttle missions in 1985. Their low crumb count prevents particles from floating freely in microgravity, which could interfere with instruments or clog ventilation systems. Similarly, salt and pepper are excluded, as loose grains would not settle on food and could contaminate cabin air, posing safety risks. Polyethylene dropper bottles provide bulk supplies of liquid seasonings: pepper suspended in oil and salt dissolved in water.

NASA's Artemis 2 mission launched April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon in an Orion capsule.&nbsp;

Artemis II mission: Why NASA’s 189-Item menu omits bread, salt & pepper. How these everyday foods become hazardous in space

Menus are developed with space food specialists and the crew to balance calorie intake, hydration and nutrients while respecting the spacecraft’s strict limits on mass, volume and power.

From launch to re-entry: How astronaut meals are tailored on Artemis II mission

NASA live-streamed the Artemis II launch, a historic mission that is sending humans back to the Moon in 54 years. People flocked to the NASA platform to see the rocket take off with four astronauts on board. However, some people caught something bizarre happening live. A shot from the livestream showed scenes from inside the spacecraft, with astronauts strapped in and ready to go. This was around 20 minutes before the launch. Just then, Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, got on the capsule tablet and typed in the PIN as everyone online watched. You can make out the numbers pretty clearly, although we are not going to tell you what they could be. Netizens were shocked to see NASA make such an error in real-time, exposing the password to an Orion tablet to the world. Wiseman obviously did not know that he was being broadcast live at the time, and typed in the PIN, which we all saw.&nbsp;People flocked to social media to share NASA's woopsie moment. A user wrote, "My guy just typed his iPad PIN directly into a 4K overhead shot… unlocking it for the entire planet. Command module getting opensourced, but it's ok because it's for the 'gram'," a user wrote. Another wrote, "'Woopsie, when you enter your tablet PIN on the NASA stream," pointing to the error. Meanwhile, one user slyly revealed the PIN (and it could be either of the two). "Hey NASA, I appreciate you wanting to get people interested in rocket science, but maybe don't broadcast that the PIN to unlock the tablet on the rocket is either 9393 or 3939," they wrote. The user told NASA it should tell Wiseman to probably change it before returning.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artemis-ii-timeline-when-will-orion-reach-moon-1775100037747">Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon?</a><h2>Watch the viral moment from Artemis II launch</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Woopsie, when you enter your tablet PIN on the NASA stream. <a href="https://t.co/tpbm3Gvw15">pic.twitter.com/tpbm3Gvw15</a>&mdash; Mark Maunder (@mmaunder) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmaunder/status/2039466429477700018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What are tablets used for in space?</h2>Tablets are used for a wide variety of things in space. From communications, to operations, and keeping a tab on the astronaut's health, the device can perform several functions. They can also be used for entertainment inside a capsule where there is not much else to do. So they can also use it to read books and listen to music. The Artemis II mission successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 pm ET (4:05 am) on April 1.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/here-s-why-nasa-astronauts-are-carrying-iphones-to-the-moon-on-artemis-ii-1775097165496">Here's why NASA astronauts are carrying iPhones to the Moon on Artemis II</a><h2>Artemis II astronauts and the mission</h2>NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are travelling to the farthest point in space any human has ever been to. The Orion will do a flyby of the Moon, going 7,500 kilometres beyond the lunar surface. It will then slingshot back towards Earth using the Moon's gravity. The Orion is scheduled to reach the Moon on April 6, giving astronauts about three hours to make observations before they return home.

Artemis II launch witnessed a weird moment when a secret password from aboard the Orion capsule was shared online for everyone to see. NASA broadcasters didn't know what was happening, but netizens noticed the moment which went viral.

NASA live-streamed the Artemis II launch, a historic mission that is sending humans back to the Moon in 54 years. People flocked to the NASA platform to see the rocket take off with four astronauts on board. However, some people caught something bizarre happening live. A shot from the livestream showed scenes from inside the spacecraft, with astronauts strapped in and ready to go. This was around 20 minutes before the launch. Just then, Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, got on the capsule tablet and typed in the PIN as everyone online watched. You can make out the numbers pretty clearly, although we are not going to tell you what they could be. Netizens were shocked to see NASA make such an error in real-time, exposing the password to an Orion tablet to the world. Wiseman obviously did not know that he was being broadcast live at the time, and typed in the PIN, which we all saw. People flocked to social media to share NASA's woopsie moment. A user wrote, "My guy just typed his iPad PIN directly into a 4K overhead shot… unlocking it for the entire planet. Command module getting opensourced, but it's ok because it's for the 'gram'," a user wrote. Another wrote, "'Woopsie, when you enter your tablet PIN on the NASA stream," pointing to the error. Meanwhile, one user slyly revealed the PIN (and it could be either of the two). "Hey NASA, I appreciate you wanting to get people interested in rocket science, but maybe don't broadcast that the PIN to unlock the tablet on the rocket is either 9393 or 3939," they wrote. The user told NASA it should tell Wiseman to probably change it before returning. Also Read: Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon? Watch the viral moment from Artemis II launch

Artemis II launch witnessed a weird moment when a secret password from aboard the Orion capsule was shared online for everyone to see. NASA broadcasters didn't know what was happening, but netizens noticed the moment which went viral.

NASA's woopsie moment during Artemis II launch as a secret password is broadcast online

Menu selections are developed in coordination with space food specialists and the astronauts themselves, ensuring the right balance of calories, hydration and nutrients while also reflecting individual preferences. In total, the crew has access to 189 food items and more than 10 beverages.

Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? Inside NASA’s 189-item menu for Artemis II’s 10-day mission

Key questions about Artemis II after the launch answered. Everything you need to know about Artemis II Orion, including how many days it will take to reach the Moon and what the astronauts will do. 

Artemis II: When will astronauts reach the Moon, how long will they stay, and other key questions answered

Artemis II is scheduled to reach the Moon on Day 6 of the mission, on April 6. Here, Orion will perform a crucial lunar flyby, going around the far side of the Moon. The spacecraft will go 7,500 kilometres beyond the surface of the Moon on the far side, using this manoeuvre to slingshot back to Earth. The SLS rocket with Orion on top successfully lifted off on the evening of April 1, taking four astronauts on a historic journey for the first time in 54 years. However, the spacecraft will not go to the Moon until all systems are checked in a high Earth orbit. The crew will remain in this region for over a day to check life-support systems and perform manual manoeuvring exercises. Once everything is checked, the spacecraft will push forward. On April 2, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will perform the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn, which will move Orion out of Earth's orbit and towards the Moon.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-launches-historic-artemis-ii-moon-mission-1775082791850">We're going around the Moon: NASA launches historic Artemis II mission</a><h2>Artemis II Moon travel time and how much time will astronauts spend near Moon</h2>It will take Orion around four days to reach the Moon. The spacecraft is scheduled to hit its target area on April 6. The Artemis II mission is not built to enter the Moon's orbit and will stay thousands of kilometres above the surface. The astronauts will be able to catch mind-blowing views of the Moon, which will appear the size of a basketball when held at an arm's distance. Orion's trajectory will carry the crew around the Moon, and later harness lunar gravity to slingshot them back to Earth. While en route, the astronauts will practice the tasks they'll perform during the lunar flyby. They will have only about three hours during Orion's closest pass above the lunar surface to complete their survey. NASA has handed them a long list of observations that they are expecting to make.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/orion-for-artemis-ii-design-size-inclusions-trip-time-and-the-toilet-problem-1774851817391">Artemis II latest updates: Orion design, size, inclusions, trip time, and the toilet problem</a><h2>Orion travel distance and when will Orion return?</h2>Orion is travelling approximately 400,000 km to the Moon, the farthest distance from Earth any manned spacecraft has ever reached. The spacecraft will eventually come back using a free-return trajectory. Orion will use the Moon's gravity to take a U-turn, like a giant loop that naturally pulls it back towards Earth. So even if the main engines fail to work optimally, the spacecraft will still come back safely. After another four days, the spacecraft will make a high-speed reentry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.&nbsp;

Artemis II timeline: When will the Artemis II crew reach the Moon, what will they do on their way, how long will they stay near the Moon, and what does the return trip look like? Key points you need to know about Artemis II and Orion.

Artemis II is scheduled to reach the Moon on Day 6 of the mission, on April 6. Here, Orion will perform a crucial lunar flyby, going around the far side of the Moon. The spacecraft will go 7,500 kilometres beyond the surface of the Moon on the far side, using this manoeuvre to slingshot back to Earth. The SLS rocket with Orion on top successfully lifted off on the evening of April 1, taking four astronauts on a historic journey for the first time in 54 years. However, the spacecraft will not go to the Moon until all systems are checked in a high Earth orbit. The crew will remain in this region for over a day to check life-support systems and perform manual manoeuvring exercises. Once everything is checked, the spacecraft will push forward. On April 2, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will perform the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn, which will move Orion out of Earth's orbit and towards the Moon. Also Read: We're going around the Moon: NASA launches historic Artemis II mission Artemis II Moon travel time and how much time will astronauts spend near Moon It will take Orion around four days to reach the Moon. The spacecraft is scheduled to hit its target area on April 6. The Artemis II mission is not built to enter the Moon's orbit and will stay thousands of kilometres above the surface. The astronauts will be able to catch mind-blowing views of the Moon, which will appear the size of a basketball when held at an arm's distance. Orion's trajectory will carry the crew around the Moon, and later harness lunar gravity to slingshot them back to Earth. While en route, the astronauts will practice the tasks they'll perform during the lunar flyby. They will have only about three hours during Orion's closest pass above the lunar surface to complete their survey. NASA has handed them a long list of observations that they are expecting to make. Also Read: Artemis II latest updates: Orion design, size, inclusions, trip time, and the toilet problem Orion travel distance and when will Orion return? Orion is travelling approximately 400,000 km to the Moon, the farthest distance from Earth any manned spacecraft has ever reached. The spacecraft will eventually come back using a free-return trajectory. Orion will use the Moon's gravity to take a U-turn, like a giant loop that naturally pulls it back towards Earth. So even if the main engines fail to work optimally, the spacecraft will still come back safely. After another four days, the spacecraft will make a high-speed reentry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.

Artemis II timeline: When will the Artemis II crew reach the Moon, what will they do on their way, how long will they stay near the Moon, and what does the return trip look like? Key points you need to know about Artemis II and Orion.

Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon?

In a fascinating mix of everyday technology and deep space exploration, NASA has approved the use of iPhones for astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission, a move that signals a new era in how space journeys are documented. Ahead of launch, NASA teams were seen integrating the smartphones into astronaut suits as the four-member crew prepared for their 10-day mission around the Moon. The spacecraft lifted off on Wednesday (April 1) aboard the Space Launch System from the Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in humanity’s return to lunar exploration.<h2>iPhones in space</h2>The decision stems from a new policy introduced in 2026 by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, allowing astronauts to carry modern smartphones during missions. While these devices won’t be connected to any network, they will play a unique role, capturing personal moments and high-quality images during the historic lunar flyby. To ensure complete safety, all iPhones will remain on airplane mode, preventing any interference with spacecraft systems. In this configuration, the phones essentially function as standalone cameras and recording devices.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-launches-historic-artemis-ii-moon-mission-1775082791850">We're going around the Moon: NASA launches historic Artemis II mission</a><h2>What is NASA's Artemis II mission?</h2>Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon in over five decades. Although it will not involve a landing, the mission is critical for testing systems that will support future lunar landings. The inclusion of iPhones reflects NASA’s broader effort to make space exploration more relatable. By equipping astronauts with familiar consumer technology, the agency aims to create more personal, immersive visuals for audiences on Earth.&nbsp;Experts say that modern smartphones now offer camera capabilities comparable to professional equipment, making them practical tools even in extreme environments. Their compact design and ease of use provide astronauts with an efficient way to document their journey.

Here's why NASA astronauts are carrying iPhones to the Moon on Artemis II

In a fascinating mix of everyday technology and deep space exploration, NASA has approved the use of iPhones for astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission, a move that signals a new era in how space journeys are documented. Ahead of launch, NASA teams were seen integrating the smartphones into astronaut suits as the four-member crew prepared for their 10-day mission around the Moon. The spacecraft lifted off on Wednesday (April 1) aboard the Space Launch System from the Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in humanity’s return to lunar exploration. iPhones in space The decision stems from a new policy introduced in 2026 by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, allowing astronauts to carry modern smartphones during missions. While these devices won’t be connected to any network, they will play a unique role, capturing personal moments and high-quality images during the historic lunar flyby. To ensure complete safety, all iPhones will remain on airplane mode, preventing any interference with spacecraft systems. In this configuration, the phones essentially function as standalone cameras and recording devices. Also Read: We're going around the Moon: NASA launches historic Artemis II mission What is NASA's Artemis II mission? Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon in over five decades. Although it will not involve a landing, the mission is critical for testing systems that will support future lunar landings. The inclusion of iPhones reflects NASA’s broader effort to make space exploration more relatable. By equipping astronauts with familiar consumer technology, the agency aims to create more personal, immersive visuals for audiences on Earth. Experts say that modern smartphones now offer camera capabilities comparable to professional equipment, making them practical tools even in extreme environments. Their compact design and ease of use provide astronauts with an efficient way to document their journey.

NASA allows astronauts to carry iPhones on Artemis II to capture personal moments in space, making lunar missions more relatable to people on Earth

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Artemis II lunar flyby: 40-minute silence will leave astronauts with no contact

Artemis II Astronauts Race to Set a New Distance Record From Earth and Behold the Moon's Far Side

Artemis II Nears Moon, Balances Milestones & Malfunctions, Toilet Glitch Reported

Artemis II Edges Closer to Moon's Far Side | NASA Launches Avatar Biology Test in Deep Space

US Space Agency Successfully Fires Artemis II Capsule Engine

Artemis II Edges Closer To The Moon's Far Side

'Space plumber' Christina Koch on Orion toilet trouble and sleeping 'like a bat'

'Nothing normal about this': Artemis II astronauts on having humans 250,000 miles away in space

Artemis II problems: Everything that went wrong, and how NASA fixed it

Memes explode after Artemis II astronauts face a Microsoft Outlook problem

Artemis II Countdown Begins: NASA’s Orion Sets Stage For Historic Return To The Moon

Artemis II mission: Why NASA’s 189-Item menu omits bread, salt & pepper

From launch to re-entry: How astronaut meals are tailored on Artemis II mission

NASA's woopsie moment during Artemis II launch as a secret password is broadcast

Cake, cookies, BBQ brisket in space? What Will Artemis II astronauts eat?

Artemis II: When will astronauts reach the Moon, and other questions answered

Artemis II timeline, from launch to return: When will Orion reach the Moon?

Here's why NASA astronauts are carrying iPhones to the Moon on Artemis II