Artemis astronauts set record for human distance from Earth

Artemis II astronauts have flown around the Moon and are returning to Earth.

The Artemis II mission has completed its main task. The Orion spacecraft with four astronauts flew around the far side of the Moon and is returning to Earth, reports the Nauka TV channel.

The Orion spacecraft approached the Moon within 6,545 km, with the minimum distance reached on April 6 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time (April 7 at 2:00 a.m. Moscow time). At the same time, several records were set. Thus, the Artemis astronauts were further from the planet Earth than anyone else among its inhabitants — 406,771 km (at 7:02 p.m.). This distance exceeded the Apollo 13 mission's previous record by 4,600 km. For the first time in half a century, astronauts remained without communication with Earth for approximately 40 minutes.

Orion is now headed for Earth. The spacecraft is moving along a trajectory called a "free-return loop." Such a path uses Earth and Moon gravity, allowing for fuel savings.