NASA has released the highest-quality video of the lunar surface ever recorded as the Artemis II crew successfully executed their historic flyby on Monday. The footage, captured from the Orion spacecraft, provides a 4K resolution view of the Moon’s far side, revealing deep craters and jagged ridges with unprecedented detail.
This release marks a pivotal moment for the Artemis program, the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are the four astronauts currently aboard the vessel.
At 1:56 p.m. EDT today, the mission officially surpassed the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, making these four individuals the farthest-traveling humans in history. President Donald Trump commended the crew from the Oval Office, describing the mission as a testament to American ingenuity and a bold step toward a permanent lunar presence.
The President emphasized that the Artemis II mission serves as a critical bridge to future deep-space exploration, including a planned return to the lunar surface. The new video shows the lunar terrain illuminated by harsh sunlight, creating long shadows that emphasize the dramatic topography of the South Pole-Aitken basin.
Astronaut Christina Koch reported via radio that the views from the Orion windows were "breathtaking" and far more vibrant than any digital simulation had suggested. The crew also captured a striking "Earthset," where the home planet appears to sink below the lunar horizon, a view only a handful of humans have ever witnessed.
NASA’s Mission Control in Houston confirmed that all spacecraft systems are performing optimally following the six-hour observation period. During the flyby, the astronauts surveyed 35 specific scientific targets, which will help geologists plan for the Artemis III landing mission.
The crew is now preparing for a trans-Earth injection burn that will begin their four-day return journey. A splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego is scheduled for Friday, April 10.