Rapid Fire
Artemis II Surpasses Apollo 13 Distance Record
- 08 Apr 2026
- 2 min read
NASA’s Artemis II Mission has set a new record for the farthest distance travelled by humans in space, surpassing the Apollo 13 milestone of 1970.
- The crew travelled beyond 248,655 miles from Earth, reaching a maximum distance of about 252,756 miles.
Artemis II Mission
- About: Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 (1972) and the 1st human flight under the Artemis programme, aimed at advancing human space exploration.
- Collaboration: The mission includes four astronauts, three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency, on board the Orion spacecraft.
- Mission Type: Launched on 1st April, using the Space Launch System (SLS), the spacecraft follows a free-return lunar flyby trajectory around the Moon.
- Key Events: The mission includes a close lunar approach (~4,067 miles), observation of the Moon’s far side, a solar eclipse, and a planned communication blackout.
- Significance: Data collected (images, telemetry, observations) will support future Artemis missions, including crewed lunar landings, and contribute to establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.
| Read more: Artemis II Mission |
