NASA’s Artemis II astronauts celebrate epic lunar flyby with stunning new images
image via New Scientist
April 7, 2026, 1:15 PM
- •Artemis II astronauts completed a lunar flyby, the first in over 50 years.
- •The crew captured 'Earthrise' images and witnessed a solar eclipse.
- •Astronauts observed features of the moon's far side never before seen by humans.
- •A call with President Trump occurred amid discussions of potential NASA budget cuts.
On its sixth day, the Artemis II mission saw astronauts successfully journey around the moon, returning humans to the lunar vicinity for the first time in over half a century. The crew became the farthest people yet flown from Earth, experienced a solar eclipse, and captured stunning images of Earth and the moon's far side. The mission included a call with President Trump, who had initiated the Artemis program, followed by a discussion of proposed budget cuts to NASA, which would give NASA its smallest budget since 1961 if passed. Despite the political backdrop, the astronauts continued their observations, preparing for their journey home and reflecting on their historic encounter with the moon.
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