Astronauts photograph moon's Orientale Basin for first time

Source: dailywire.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

Four days into Artemis II, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen photographed the Orientale Basin on the moon's far side, marking the first time humans have seen the entire feature. NASA released the image amid other shots of Earth, as the crew nears their closest lunar approach on April 6, 2026. The mission tests the Orion spacecraft without landing, paving the way for Artemis III and IV.

Key points

Details and context

Key quotes

“Artemis II is a test flight, and the test has just begun. ... Over the next 10 days, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy will put Orion through its paces so the crews who follow them can go to the Moon’s surface with confidence.”

NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya

Why it matters

This advances NASA's goal of sustained moon presence and Mars exploration through reliable spacecraft tech. It means progress toward crewed lunar landings in 2027-2028, boosting U.S. space leadership for governments and private partners. Watch Artemis III docking tests and any Orion performance data from this mission, though schedules could shift.