"The Artemis II astronauts will travel approximately 10,300 kilometers beyond the moon, shattering all previous records for distance from Earth. The closest approach will be 7,400 kilometers."
"The spacecraft will not enter orbit around the moon but will fly past it and use a gravitational slingshot to return to Earth, ensuring reentry even in the event of engine failure."
On April 2, a Space Launch System rocket launched the Orion capsule with Artemis II astronauts, marking the first human journey beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. The mission will test critical technologies for future lunar missions, including radiation shielding and communication systems. The trajectory is not direct; after launch, the crew orbited Earth for 23 hours before heading to the moon. Artemis II will fly 10,300 kilometers beyond the moon, using a gravitational slingshot for reentry without entering lunar orbit.
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