Then begins the actual observation period of the moon’s far side, expected sometime around 2:45 p.m. ET.
“Because room at the spacecraft’s windows is limited, the crew will divide into pairs, with two crew members observing for 55 to 85 minutes” and taking turns, NASA says.
The astronauts will also take pictures and videos of what they see through the capsule’s windows. At its closest, the moon will appear “the size of a basketball at arm’s length,” NASA likes to say.
In this photo provided by NASA, the moon is seen in the window of the Orion spacecraft. (NASA via AP)
At around 6:40 p.m., Mission Control expects to lose communication with the Artemis II crew for about 40 minutes when they’re behind the moon, and at their furthest point from earth.
NASA expects to regain communications shortly after 7:20 p.m. ET, after which the moon will be situated between the sun and the spacecraft — a solar eclipse. The astronauts will be using special eclipse glasses to look for any unusual solar activity during this period, and will use their “unique vantage point” to describe the features of the solar corona, or crown, NASA geologist Kelsey Young said.
The crew is expected to begin transmitting images of their observations far side back to NASA shortly after 9:30 p.m. ET, after the flyby is complete.
“They’ve practiced for many, many, many months on visualizations of the moon,” Young said, “and getting their eyes on the real thing, I’m really, really looking forward to them bringing the moon a little closer to home on Monday.”
This is SUCH an amazing day.
