SouthernWorldwide.com – The Artemis II astronauts have officially entered a tense 40-minute communication blackout as their spacecraft traversed behind the far side of the Moon.
NASA confirmed that the signal loss commenced around 6:44 p.m. ET and is anticipated to last approximately 40 minutes.
During this historic period, the four-person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—became the most isolated humans in deep space history.
The communication interruption occurred as the spacecraft lost direct line of sight with Earth, with the Moon physically obstructing all satellite transmissions.
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Contact is projected to be re-established around 7:25 p.m. ET, a moment marked by the phenomenon known as “Earthrise” as our planet reappears over the lunar horizon.
NASA has consistently stated that while they do not foresee any specific threats during this phase of the mission, comprehensive contingency plans are in place.
To prepare for potential extended periods in their bulky orange launch and entry suits, the astronauts recently underwent training for essential tasks, such as consuming protein shakes and administering medication.
Furthermore, NASA has highlighted that the Orion spacecraft is equipped with a fail-safe oxygen system capable of maintaining cabin pressure in the event of a puncture, providing the crew ample time to don their pressurized suits safely.
The Artemis II crew is also set to achieve several significant milestones during this blackout period, including being the first humans to witness unparalleled views of the Moon’s far side.
At 7:05 p.m. ET, the spacecraft is expected to reach its apogee, or farthest point from Earth, at a distance of 252,760 miles. This achievement will surpass the record previously held by Apollo 13 by approximately 4,105 miles.
At their closest approach to the lunar surface, about 4,070 miles away, the Moon is expected to appear roughly the size of a basketball held at arm’s length, according to NASA’s descriptions.
Although ground control and the science evaluation team will be unable to communicate with the astronauts during this blackout, the crew will continue to adhere to their lunar targeting plan and conduct scientific observations.
The astronauts are scheduled to document historic Apollo landing sites, identify potential future landing zones, and capture rare photographic views of neighboring planets such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. They will also observe a solar eclipse from Orion’s unique vantage point.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Artemis II crew officially broke the record for the greatest distance traveled from Earth, a record previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970, NASA announced.
