The Artemis II endeavor by NASA marks a significant milestone. Following its April 1 liftoff, the crew has journeyed 39,000 miles across the cosmos, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen poised to venture beyond the farthest point any humans have reached. The full event can be observed via live broadcasts on YouTube and NASA's NASA+ platform, commencing at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Access to NASA+ is also available on Netflix.
The action will build gradually, so for those with schedules this afternoon who wish to witness pivotal developments without full commitment, focusing on select highlights is advisable. Around 1:56 p.m. ET, the Artemis II craft will surpass the distance record for manned flights, eclipsing the Apollo 13 achievement from 1970. Subsequently, at 2:45 p.m. ET, the Orion vehicle will commence its lunar pass, reaching its nearest point to the Moon's surface near 7:02 p.m. ET. Moments afterward, roughly at 7:07 p.m. ET, it will achieve the greatest separation from our planet.
Over an hour subsequent, by 8:35 p.m. ET, the team aboard Artemis II will observe a complete solar eclipse from the Moon's distant side—an occurrence invisible to Earth-based viewers. For limited viewing time, this segment stands out as essential.
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