Artemis II mission makes history with lunar flyby, historic distance The Artemis II mission to the moon makes a historic lunar flyby, pushing the boundaries of human deep space travel. The crew will soon surpass Apollo 13’s flight distance record, becoming the furthest humans from Earth. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick emphasizes this mission as a crucial step for future interplanetary travel, with the goal of a permanent lunar base by 2028. Global enthusiasm for space exploration is growing. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! President Donald Trump will honor four astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any human in history during a record-breaking trip around the moon earlier this year. Trump will award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen during an Aug. 28 ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the agency announced. The four made history in April aboard Artemis II, the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and the first mission to take astronauts around the Moon in more than half a century. PETER NAVARRO: TRUMP’S ARTEMIS VISION IS NOW FLYING, AND CHINA IS PAYING ATTENTION Artemis II Crew NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, left, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA astronaut Canadian Space Agency) Jeremy Hansen in the Oval Office of the White House with President Donald Trump. (White House via NASA) At its furthest point, the crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the human spaceflight distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, according to NASA. The astronauts covered 695,081 miles during their nearly 10-day mission. Their journey began April 1, when NASA’s Space Launch System rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with 8.8 million pounds of thrust. After testing Orion’s systems in space, the crew headed toward the moon and passed within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface during a flyby on April 6, NASA said. NEW ARTEMIS II VIDEO SHOWS MOMENT NAVY MEDICAL TEAM OPENED HATCH, WELCOMING ASTRONAUTS The crew of Artemis II, Commander Reid Wiseman, left, mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen as they answer media questions. during a video conference, on April 8. (NASA via AP) Astronauts captured more than 7,000 images along the way, including views of Earth’s sunrise and sunset, lunar craters, ancient lava flows and a solar eclipse as seen from Orion. NASA said the crew also reported flashes of meteor impacts on the night side of the Moon. Orion returned to Earth on April 10, entering the atmosphere at approximately 25,000 mph before falling into the Pacific Ocean off California. NASA CHIEF DECLARES US ‘ABSOLUTELY BACK’ IN SPACE RACE, SAYS WE WILL BEAT CHINA ON THE MOON The Artemis II crew is honored during the welcome home ceremony April 11 in Houston. (KRIV) NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said after the crew’s return that the astronauts had accepted “significant risk” while testing the spacecraft and systems intended to take future crews deeper into space. The medal they will receive has its roots in the Apollo era. Congress authorized the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1969, declaring that the United States space program was based on the “intelligence, dedication, bravery, and self-sacrifice” of astronauts who flew missions to the “hostile environment of space.” Under law, the president may award the medal on behalf of Congress to astronauts who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the well-being of the nation and humanity. NASA says the medal has been awarded only to a “very select group” of astronauts. Its official list includes 30 recipients, including Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell. Armstrong was among six astronauts who received the medal from President Jimmy Carter on October 1, 1978, according to NASA. TRUMP TURNES TO THE MOON WITH NUCLEAR REACTOR PLANS AS CHINA AND RUSSIA JOIN SPACE RACE In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, April 6. (NASA via AP) The four Artemis II astronauts would increase the number of winners to 34. Artemis II also served as a springboard for the astronauts’ return to the lunar surface. NASA said the crew tested Orion’s life support systems, manually piloted the spacecraft and collected data intended to prepare for future missions. NASA plans to test commercial lunar landing operations during Artemis III in low Earth orbit in 2027 and is targeting Artemis IV for the program’s first lunar landing in 2028. The agency says Artemis ultimately aims to establish a lasting human presence on the moon and lay the groundwork for sending astronauts to Mars. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, left, Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover, and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, look at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square in New York City, April 30. (Adam Gray / AFP via Getty Images) “NASA’s leadership team was in mission control, along with the flight control team, watching as the Artemis II crew crossed that historic threshold and became the explorers to venture furthest from Earth,” NASA administrator. “Certainly, the astronauts were aware of and monitoring their spacecraft systems. Under President Trump’s leadership, Artemis II captivated the world, inspired a generation, and gave us the confidence to move forward as America returns to the Moon to build a base and stay. Artemis III is the next mission in that campaign, but it will be in 2028 during Artemis IV, when NASA astronauts will walk on the Moon again.” The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Jasmine Baehr is a breaking news editor for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, legal debates about life and family politics, as well as faith and culture.
