Overview
- The Orion capsule flew behind the Moon on Monday, breaking Apollo 13’s mark at about 406,000 kilometers from Earth.
- Radio contact dropped for roughly 40 to 50 minutes while Orion was out of line of sight behind the Moon, a planned blackout used to check onboard navigation and autonomy.
- The crew captured new images of the lunar far side, including the vast Orientale basin, and relayed visual notes on craters and terrain to scientists in Houston.
- Orion is now on a free‑return course that uses the Moon’s gravity to aim the spacecraft back to Earth, with splashdown targeted for Friday near San Diego.
- Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are stress‑testing life support and communications in deep space to pave the way for future Artemis landings.