Orion Crew to Conduct Research During Lunar Flyby

The crew of the American spacecraft Orion, which is part of the Artemis II mission, will engage in scientific research and photography of approximately thirty objects on the surface of our natural satellite during its anticipated lunar flyby, set to take place on Monday. This significant event was announced by NASA, highlighting the importance of this stage in space exploration.

The flyby is scheduled to commence at 2:45 PM Eastern Time, which corresponds to 6:45 PM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). At its closest approach, the spacecraft will be approximately 6,550 kilometers from the lunar surface, allowing the crew to gather unique data about the Moon's topography and structure.

Kelsey Young, the mission's science program manager, noted that during the flyby, which will last about 6.5 hours, the crew will have a very busy schedule related to scientific tasks. According to her, the astronauts will observe 35 objects on the lunar surface, as well as planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn.

The astronauts will have the opportunity to observe the sunlit surface of the Moon for about five hours. During this time, they are expected to carry out the bulk of the scientific program, which is crucial for future research.

Among the objects the crew will be able to study in detail is the vast Eastern Sea (Mare Orientale) — a 930-kilometer crater located on the western edge of the Moon. It will be fully illuminated and visible as the spacecraft approaches the Moon, enabling the crew to examine its features from a close distance and from various angles.

While previous American missions, such as Apollo, have seen the far side of the Moon, this will be the first time NASA sends astronauts to directly study its features from a higher and broader vantage point, providing new opportunities for scientific discoveries.

All objects observed, including their size, shape, and even the color of craters, slopes, and structures, will be documented for further analysis.

During the four hours following the start of the flyby, when Orion will be behind the far side of the Moon, communication between the spacecraft and NASA's flight control center in Houston will be completely lost for approximately 40 minutes, which is standard practice for such missions.

At 8:45 PM Eastern Time (Tuesday at 3:45 AM UTC), the astronauts will be able to witness an eclipse from a unique vantage point as the Sun hides behind the Moon, allowing them to see its corona — another opportunity for scientific observations.

The lunar observations will conclude around 9:20 PM Eastern Time (Tuesday at 4:20 AM UTC), after which the crew will continue their mission.

The launch of the Orion spacecraft, which includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, took place using the heavy-lift SLS rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, last Wednesday at 6:35 PM Eastern Time (Thursday at 1:35 AM UTC). As part of the Artemis II mission, after one orbit around the Moon, the spacecraft will return to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The flight duration will be 10 days, marking an important milestone in the space exploration program.