Artemis II astronauts gear up for Moon flyby on day five of landmark mission

The four astronauts aboard Artemis II are on the brink of a historic milestone, preparing to enter the Moon’s “sphere of influence” after witnessing lunar views never before seen directly by human eyes.

As day five of the 10-day mission began, their Orion spacecraft was nearly 215,000 miles (346,000 km) from Earth and about 65,000 miles from the Moon, according to NASA. The crew received a ceremonial wake-up call from former astronaut Charlie Duke, who walked on the Moon in 1972. Now 90, Duke shared a personal message, noting that a photograph of his family lies on the lunar surface below them, symbolizing global support for the mission and its continuation of the Apollo legacy.

Earlier, the crew captured a striking image of the Moon, highlighting the vast Orientale basin—a massive, bullseye-shaped crater never before seen in its entirety by human eyes, though previously photographed by orbiters.

The next key phase is expected overnight, when the spacecraft enters the Moon’s gravitational dominance—where lunar gravity outweighs Earth’s pull. According to Lori Glaze, anticipation is high as teams prepare for the first crewed lunar flyby in over five decades.

During the flyby, astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen will observe the Moon both with the naked eye and onboard cameras. Lead scientist Kelsey Young noted that some observations may be unexpected, underscoring the exploratory nature of the mission.

If all proceeds as planned, the crew could set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.

Systems checks and preparation

Alongside their journey, the astronauts have been conducting key systems tests. NASA confirmed they successfully completed a manual piloting demonstration and reviewed their lunar flyby plan, including identifying surface features for observation and imaging.

Speaking to CNN, NASA chief Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of testing the spacecraft’s life support systems, noting that this is the first time astronauts are flying aboard Orion.

On day five, the crew also tested their emergency “survival” suits—bright orange gear designed for launch, re-entry, and critical situations like cabin depressurization. The exercise included full suit operations, leak checks, mobility assessments, and even testing their ability to eat and drink while suited.

Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it is expected to break the record for the farthest human spaceflight during its journey around the lunar far side. The data gathered will be crucial for future missions, including Artemis III and Artemis IV, which aim to return humans to the lunar surface later this decade.