Where No Human Has Ever Ventured... Tonight, Artemis-2 Will Make History Near the Moon

As part of NASA's Artemis-2 mission, four astronauts will, for the first time, observe a colossal crater situated on the far side (or "dark side") of the Moon. This crater is known as the Orientale Basin. It spans approximately 965 kilometers in width and is composed of three concentric rings.

It was formed 3.8 billion years ago following the impact of a massive meteorite (an asteroid approximately 64 kilometers in diameter). Prior to this, it had only been observed through images captured by robotic spacecraft. However, the Artemis-2 astronauts are now viewing the entire crater with their own eyes. NASA has hailed this as a historic moment.

Where and When Will Orion Be (in Indian Standard Time)?

• 11:26 PM: The Artemis-2 crew will break the 1972 record set by Apollo 13. This will establish a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.

• 12:15 AM: Observation of the Moon will commence. • 4:14 AM: As the Orion spacecraft passes behind the Moon, the crew will lose contact with Mission Control for approximately 50 minutes.

• 4:15 AM: During Earthset • Earth will disappear behind the Moon from Orion's perspective.

• 4:32 AM: Orion will reach its closest point to the Moon. At this moment, it will be just 6,550 kilometers above the lunar surface.

• 4:37 AM: The crew will reach their farthest distance from Earth during this mission.

• 5:00 AM: An "Earthrise" will occur—meaning Earth will once again become visible, emerging from behind the Moon. NASA Mission Control will re-establish contact with the astronauts.

• 6:05 AM to 7:02 AM: During a solar eclipse, the Sun will be obscured behind the Moon from the crew's point of view.

• 7:50 AM: The Moon will cease to be visible.

How was the Orientale Basin crater formed, and why is it significant?

The Orientale Basin is situated on the boundary between the near and far sides of the Moon. It is one of the largest and best-preserved multi-ring basins on the lunar surface. Scientists believe that a massive asteroid impact occurred there 3.8 billion years ago. This event melted millions of cubic miles of rock and sent debris hurtling into the sky.

Who are the astronauts on the Artemis II mission, and what are they doing?

The Artemis mission crew consists of four members: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission launched from Florida on April 1, 2026. For the first 25 hours, the astronauts orbited Earth, capturing stunning images of the planet. They are now en route to the Moon.

When will Orion reach the Moon, and how far will it travel?

The Orion spacecraft will enter the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence on April 6, 2026. It will make a close flyby of the Moon and observe the lunar "dark side" (far side). During the mission, Orion will not complete a full orbit around the Moon; instead, it will perform a flyby—passing close by before continuing on its trajectory.

The astronauts will travel to a distance of approximately 400,000 kilometers from Earth. This will set a new record for the farthest space journey ever undertaken by humans since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Summary 

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. It is not merely a journey, but a preparation for the future; through this mission, NASA is evaluating the Orion spacecraft to determine its safety and reliability for long-duration space travel. The astronauts will capture images and gather data from 30 specific locations on the lunar surface. This mission will pave the way for future human landings on the Moon (Artemis III) and subsequent expeditions to Mars.