Astronauts aboard Artemis II have described their first view of the Moon’s far side as unlike anything previously experienced, offering a rare glimpse into a region never visible from Earth.
The crew Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency are currently on the third day of their mission aboard the Orion spacecraft.
The mission, led by NASA, is designed to take humans around the far side of the Moon and safely return them to Earth, marking a significant milestone in renewed lunar exploration.
Describing the moment, Koch said the view felt unfamiliar and almost disorienting. “Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing,” she said, highlighting the stark contrast between the near side visible from Earth and the rugged, heavily cratered terrain of the far side.
As of late Saturday, mission data showed the spacecraft had travelled more than 180,000 miles (about 289,681 kilometres) from Earth, placing the crew deep into cislunar space.
The far side of the Moon, often referred to as the “dark side,” does not receive less sunlight but remains permanently out of view from Earth due to tidal locking. Its surface is known for having fewer of the dark, smooth plains seen on the near side, instead featuring a more uneven and heavily cratered landscape.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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