NASA confirms Artemis 2 crew has passed halfway to the Moon

The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis mission have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon as they head towards their planned lunar flyby, the agency confirmed on Friday evening.

“We’re halfway there,” NASA said in a social media post.

Data from the space agency’s online dashboard showed that the Orion spacecraft carrying the crew is now more than 219,000 kilometres (136,080 miles) from Earth.

NASA’s return to the Moon with the Artemis programme is not simply about repeating the Apollo missions; the agency’s aim is to go to the Moon “and stay there.”

Originally, NASA planned to establish bases both in lunar orbit and on the Moon’s surface, though the orbital base has since been shelved. In the short term, the primary objective is to return humans to the lunar surface.

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Key Objectives of the Artemis Programme

Technology: NASA is developing advanced rockets, spacesuits, and other technologies to support future deep-space missions.

Partnerships: Artemis represents one of NASA’s largest collaborations with commercial companies, including SpaceX and Boeing.

Long-term presence: Unlike Apollo 17, where astronauts spent just three days on the Moon, Artemis aims to extend lunar stays to weeks or even months.

Knowledge: With more information about the Moon and advanced technology, NASA intends to collect lunar samples more strategically than during the Apollo era.

Resources: The Moon’s water and rare mineral deposits offer potential for scientific research and economic exploration.

Competition: NASA is racing to return humans to the Moon before China, which plans a crewed lunar landing by 2030 under the Chang’e Project.

Equality: Initially, Artemis aimed to land the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon, a goal later removed under the Trump administration.

Laying the Groundwork for Mars

While a Moon mission takes around three days, reaching Mars is far more complex. NASA sees Artemis as a stepping stone to establish a lunar settlement and economy, which could eventually support human missions to Mars.

The Artemis 2 Crew

The crew for Artemis 2 was announced on 3 April 2023 and consists of:

Christina Koch – Mission Specialist

Jeremy Hansen – Mission Specialist

Reid Wiseman – Commander

Victor Glover – Pilot