TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The crew of the Artemis II mission is pressing ahead with critical operations aboard the Orion spacecraft today, April 6, 2026, U.S. time, as they approach a historic lunar flyby. This NASA mission carries astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.
According to NASA reports, in addition to testing spacesuits and safety protocols, the crew is finalizing scientific targets and trajectory correction maneuvers for the approach. The spacecraft is scheduled to enter the moon’s gravitational influence this Monday at 00:41 EDT (11:41 WIB/Jakarta time).
Spacesuit testing involves rigorous leak checks, seating position simulations, mobility evaluations, and assessments of food and drink capabilities. These suits are engineered to protect the astronauts during high-stakes flight phases, including potential cabin depressurization.
Following these tests, the crew will execute trajectory correction maneuvers at 22:03 EDT (09:03 Jakarta time, April 7) to fine-tune Orion’s lunar path. Notably, two previous maneuvers were scrapped because the spacecraft’s trajectory was already deemed remarkably precise.
Mission Control has also transmitted 30 observation targets on the lunar surface. Among these are the Orientale and Hertzsprung basins, which will be studied to gain deeper insights into the Moon’s geological evolution.
During this flyby, Orion is expected to break the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, surpassing the milestone set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. It is estimated that the record will fall at 13:56 EDT (00:56 WIB, April 7), with the craft reaching a maximum distance of 252,760 miles, more than 406,000 kilometers, from Earth at 19:07 EDT (06:07 Jakarta time, April 7).
Meanwhile, Orion is slated to exit the moon’s gravitational pull on Tuesday, April 7, at 13:25 EDT (00:25 Jakarta time, April 8). During the flyby phase behind the moon, communication with Earth will be severed for approximately 40 minutes as the lunar mass obstructs the signal. Once the spacecraft re-emerges, the space communication network will promptly restore the link.
Key Moments of Orion’s Lunar Flyby
Here are some key moments of Orion's moon flyby (EDT/WIB):
00:41 EDT / 11:41 WIB (April 6): Orion enters the moon's gravitational influence.
13:30 EDT / 00:30 WIB (April 7): Crew receives scientific target instructions.
13:56 EDT / 00:56 WIB (April 7): Farthest distance from Earth record surpassed.
14:45 EDT / 01:45 WIB (April 7): Moon observation begins.
18:44 EDT / 05:44 WIB (April 7): Communication temporarily interrupted as Orion is behind the moon.
19:02 EDT / 06:02 WIB (April 7): Closest point to the moon (4,070 miles).
19:07 EDT / 06:07 WIB (April 7): Maximum distance from Earth.
19:25 EDT / 06:25 WIB (April 7): Communication restored.
20:35-21:32 EDT / 07:35-08:32 WIB (April 7): Solar eclipse from the crew's perspective.
21:20 EDT / 08:20 WIB (April 7): Moon observation completed.
Read: Artemis II Passes Halfway Point to Moon, Sends Earth Photos
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