History is being made right now above our heads. On April 6, 2026, the four-person crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission is completing a dramatic flyby of the Moon’s far side — making them the first humans to see those lunar landscapes with their own eyes since the Apollo era more than 50 years ago.
A Record-Breaking Journey Into Deep Space
Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen are traveling an estimated 252,021 statute miles from Earth during their lunar flyby. That distance officially surpasses the legendary Apollo 13 record by more than 3,300 miles, making this the farthest any human beings have ever traveled from our planet.
The crew launched aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, successfully completing a translunar injection burn that sent their Orion spacecraft hurtling toward the Moon. After five days of deep-space travel, today’s flyby is the mission’s crown jewel.
What the Crew Is Doing Right Now
During the multi-hour lunar flyby, the astronauts are photographing the Moon’s surface and providing real-time observations of terrain that no human has ever directly witnessed. The far side of the Moon — sometimes called the “dark side” — is perpetually hidden from Earth’s view, making these observations scientifically invaluable.
Victor Glover, serving as pilot, becomes the first Black astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit, while Christina Koch adds to her already historic resume as the first woman on a lunar mission. Jeremy Hansen is making history as the first Canadian to leave Earth’s orbital neighborhood.
Why Artemis II Matters for the Future
This mission is far more than a sightseeing trip. Artemis II serves as the critical crewed test flight that validates every system needed before NASA lands astronauts on the lunar surface with Artemis III. From life support to navigation to communication deep in space, every piece of technology is being stress-tested with human lives on the line.
The success so far has electrified the space community and reignited public excitement about lunar exploration. If you’re looking for more breaking stories on science, tech, and everything trending, check out our blog at FixItWhy for daily coverage.
What Happens Next
After the flyby, Orion will use the Moon’s gravity to slingshot back toward Earth. The crew is expected to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean around April 11, completing an approximately 10-day mission that will go down as one of the most significant achievements in 21st-century space exploration.
The world is watching as four brave astronauts push the boundaries of human spaceflight farther than ever before. Drop your thoughts in the comments below!