NASA will lose contact with the astronauts for about 40 minutes as their spacecraft passes behind the Moon - one of the most tense moments of the entire mission.
The Artemis II mission crew is in the final stages of approaching the Moon, ahead of a flyby that is expected to break the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.
During this mission, astronauts are taking photos and videos of the Moon, as well as recording scientific observations. But for 40 minutes, the Moon's surface will block radio signals, cutting off all communication with Earth.
This will create a communications "blackout" - a period during which the crew cannot call for help if a problem occurs.
The mission's pilot, Victor Glover, has described this moment as an opportunity for reflection: a time to hope and trust that everything will go well until contact is restored.
The 730,000-mile round-trip trip is the first mission to send humans to the Moon in more than 50 years. The Orion capsule is currently about 32,000 miles (51,000 kilometers) from the lunar surface.
The mission is expected to break the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, reaching a maximum distance of over 406 kilometers from Earth.
During the flight, the crew will spend about seven hours observing the Moon, taking a close look at both the visible and the invisible sides. Due to limited space, the astronauts will be divided into groups to take turns observing.
The most critical moment is expected when the capsule passes behind the Moon and communication is completely cut off. It is at this stage that the astronauts will be closer to the Moon than ever during the mission.
However, mission leaders are confident that everything is under control. They emphasize that the capsule will not use engines to return, but will rely on the moon's gravity to return to Earth.
After about 40 minutes, communication is expected to be restored and the mission to continue as normal. The crew will then continue observations and send data and images back to Earth.
The mission has so far gone largely smoothly, apart from a few minor technical issues that have now been resolved.
After completing the flight around the Moon, the capsule will begin the return journey to Earth, a journey that will take about four days. During this time, the astronauts will conduct important safety tests, including protection from solar radiation.
In the final phase, the capsule will enter the atmosphere at very high speed and land in the Pacific Ocean.
This mission aims to pave the way for a new landing on the Moon in 2028 - which would be the first time humans have returned to the lunar surface since 1972. /GazetaExpress/
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