Artemis II Surpasses Apollo 13 Distance Record | 08 Apr 2026

Source: TH 

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.