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Artemis II crew describe 'something we have never seen' on far side

cultureApr 4, 2026128

Artemis II astronauts described encountering "something we have never seen before" while passing over the Moon's far side on mission day three. The crew completed a far-side flyby and returned toward Earth, gaining rare crewed views of terrain and sky that are normally hidden from ground observers. Their live descriptions and onboard observations provide new scientific perspectives and demonstrate Orion spacecraft performance for upcoming Artemis missions and future lunar landings.

Key Highlights

Artemis II crew passed behind the Moon's far side on mission day three.
Crew described seeing "something we have never seen before" on the far side.
Flyby produced new observations and validated Orion systems for future Artemis missions.
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