#lunar flyby

[salbertwolf]

Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), Artemis II - April 6th 2026

[steadynightruins]

Moon Joy - the Artemis crew take time out for a group hug inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home

[nasa]

One last look at Earth before we reach the Moon. This view of the Earth was captured on April 5, the fourth day of the Artemis II mission, from inside the Orion spacecraft. The four astronauts will reach their closest approach of the Moon tomorrow, April 6. 

[ukulelekatie]

[thepastisalreadywritten]

3 April 2026

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3 April 2026

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3 April 2026

[intellectually-voluptuous]

Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch: Houston, we have you [loud and clear], and it is so great to hear from Earth again. To Asia, Africa, and Oceania: we are looking back at you. We hear you can look up and see the moon right now. We see you too. When we burned this burn toward the moon, I said that we do not leave Earth, but we choose it, and that is true. We will explore, we will build, we will build ships, we will visit again. We will construct science outposts, we will drive rovers, we will do radio astronomy, we will found companies, we will bolster industry, we will inspire...

... but ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.

Houston CAPCOM: Integrity, from Earth - our single system, fragile and interconnected - we copy. Those of us that can, are looking back.

—the first communications between Mission Control & Orion Integrity when they came back into signal range after their trip around the back of the moon // the Integrity crew clasping hands and high-fiving on the live video feed during this exchange

[k666-ya]

always choose each other

[mottshepard]

Seeing a family size Nutella jar float, unhindered, through the Artemis II crew cabin on live broadcast as they simultaneously broke the Apollo 13 lunar distance record