Astronauts photograph moon's Orientale Basin for first time
Source: dailywire.com
TL;DR
- Artemis II crew captured the first human-eye photo of the entire Orientale Basin on the moon's far side.
- Image taken four days into the mission shows the basin on the lunar disk's right edge, per NASA.
- This test flight proves Orion's capabilities to support future lunar landings and Mars missions.
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
- Photo features the Orientale Basin on the right edge of the lunar disk; NASA says it's the first full view by human eyes.
- Crew shared Earth images days earlier, with one using a long shutter speed for daylight and another short one for nighttime glow.
- Artemis II is a test flight; crew will stress-test Orion over 10 days for future missions.
- Artemis III (2027) will test Orion docking with commercial spacecraft for lunar landings.
- Artemis IV (2028) plans to return humans to the moon's surface after over 50 years.
- NASA aims for permanent U.S. moon bases; by end of 2028, Space Reactor-1 Freedom unmanned nuclear spacecraft heads to Mars.
Details and context
- Mission timeline: Photos taken April 5, 2026; closest moon approach April 6; NASA posted a final Earth view from Orion before arrival.
- Crew includes three NASA astronauts and one from the Canadian Space Agency.
- NASA's associate administrator Amit Kshatriya noted the team prepared Orion perfectly, but more work lies ahead in the long campaign.
- Artemis II builds directly on prior tests, focusing on proving spacecraft reliability without surface touchdown.
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.