Artemis II is about to have its climactic moment: The crew is heading into their closely choreographed lunar flyby, when their spacecraft will swing around the moon's far side.
NASA will broadcast the space event live on Monday, April 6. During this pass, the four astronauts will carry out a detailed science plan that calls for 30 different observation targets. Some of the crew will station themselves at the central windows to photograph and document the moon views, while others will offer support from inside the cabin, rotating through roles as the flyby unfolds.
As the spacecraft moves behind the moon, Earth will gradually slide across the windows and then slip out of sight in a dramatic Earthset. During that period, radio contact with mission control in Houston will drop for about 40 minutes, a planned loss of signal caused by the moon blocking the line of sight. Even without that communication link, the crew will keep working.
Check out these Mashable stories for how to watch the historic mission milestone, why scientists are excited about the crew's lunar observations, and what the astronauts will experience from their perspective:
Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas
The day Earth slipped behind the moon: the Artemis II crew's eclipse
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