NASA’s Artemis II mission enters lunar flyby phase

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

(KBSI) — NASA’s Artemis II mission is entering a key phase as the crew begins its lunar flyby and observation period Monday afternoon.

The milestone marks a major moment in the mission, as the spacecraft travels around the moon and continues deeper into space before returning to Earth.

According to NASA, the observation period is expected to begin around 2:45 p.m. Eastern. During this time, viewers may see limited live visuals of the crew, though officials say coverage could vary.

A temporary communications blackout is expected later in the evening as the spacecraft moves behind the moon. The blackout is projected to last about 40 minutes, during which there will be no communication between the crew and mission control.

The spacecraft is scheduled to make its closest approach to the moon just after 7 p.m. Eastern, marking another significant milestone in the mission.

Earlier in the day, the mission also surpassed the distance record set during the Apollo 13 mission, highlighting how far the Artemis II crew has traveled from Earth.

NASA says communication is expected to resume after the spacecraft emerges from behind the moon, with the flyby period continuing into the evening.