Orion Breaks Apollo Record

The Artemis 1 spacecraft has completed the Lunar Flyby, breaking the Apollo-era record for the farthest distance traveled by any human-rated spacecraft.

The closest approach to the moon’s surface was around 128 km. This marks the first in a series of complex missions for human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Artemis I, nearing 270,000 miles, will soon surpass Apollo 13’s record-setting distance.

On the sixth day of the Artemis I mission, a photograph was taken of Earth setting from the far side of the moon, just beyond the Orion spacecraft.

The spacecraft was preparing for the Outbound Powered Flyby manoeuvre, which would bring it within 80 miles of the lunar surface.

On November 20, 2022, the spacecraft entered the lunar sphere of influence, making the Moon the main gravitational force.

On November 21, 2022, Orion re-acquired a signal with NASA’s Deep Space Network after successfully performing the outbound powered flyby burn.

At the time of the burn, Orion was 328 miles above the moon, traveling at 5,023 mph. Shortly after the burn, it passed 81 miles above the moon, traveling at 5,102 mph. At the time of the lunar flyby, Orion was more than 230,000 miles from Earth.

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, just after 2:15 am IST, Spacecraft had traveled 216,842 miles from Earth and was 13,444 miles from the Moon, cruising at 3,489 miles per hour. It will travel about 57,287 miles beyond the Moon at its farthest point from the Moon on 25 November, 2022, pass the record set by Apollo 14 for the farthest distance traveled by a spacecraft designed for humans at 248,655 miles from Earth on Saturday, 26 November, 2022, and reach its maximum distance from Earth of 268,552 miles Monday, 28 November, 2022.  

Upcoming Event

The launch of the SpaceX CRS-26 cargo Dragon resupply craft to the International Space Station has scheduled at 3:54 p.m. EST on Tuesday, 22 November, 2022.  Indian can enjoy the live broadcast at 2:24 am IST on Wednesday, 23 November, 2022.