Artemis II Crew Shares Astonishment at Unseen Lunar Far Side

The astronauts undertaking the Artemis II mission have conveyed their profound impression of the Moon’s far side, describing it as an unfamiliar and remarkable vista, offering a perspective that has never been observable from Earth. The mission team, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is currently navigating the Orion spacecraft on the third day of their voyage.

This mission, spearheaded by NASA, is designed to circumnavigate the far side of the Moon and ensure the crew's safe return to Earth, signifying a crucial advancement in humanity's pursuit of lunar exploration.

Describing the experience, Christina Koch remarked that the view felt alien and somewhat disorienting. She noted, “Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing,” emphasizing the stark contrast between the near side, which is perpetually visible from Earth, and the rugged, heavily cratered terrain of the far side.

As of Saturday evening, the spacecraft's telemetry indicated it had journeyed more than 180,000 miles (approximately 289,681 kilometres) away from Earth, positioning the crew deep within the cislunar expanse.

The far side of the Moon, often colloquially termed the “dark side,” does not experience less sunlight. Instead, it remains permanently hidden from Earth’s view due to a phenomenon known as tidal locking. Its surface is characterized by a scarcity of the dark, smooth plains commonly seen on the near side, presenting instead a more uneven and extensively cratered topography.

Erizia Rubyjeana