Watch: Artemis II’s historic lunar flyby… in 90 seconds
Watch: Artemis II Crew’s Record-Breaking Lunar Pass…
NASA’s Artemis II mission reached a critical milestone as its four astronauts ventured farther from Earth than any previous crew, capturing unprecedented imagery of our planet from the Moon’s far side. The Orion spacecraft’s communication link with mission control was temporarily severed for 40 minutes during their orbital maneuver, a planned event to test the system’s resilience.
“It’s so great to hear from Earth again,” remarked astronaut Christina Koch after re-establishing contact.
During their journey, the team observed a total solar eclipse, as the Moon obscured the Sun’s light in a rare celestial alignment. President Trump later acknowledged their achievement, declaring, “Today, you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud.”
Video edited by Ian Aikman highlights the mission’s pivotal moments, including the communication blackout and the breathtaking views from lunar orbit.
Other Updates from the Week
At the annual “Great Marshmallow Drop,” a crowd of over 15,000 children scrambled to collect fluffy treats dropped from a helicopter. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court faced a legal challenge regarding Bill 21, a provincial secularism law, with Muslim women reporting significant personal impacts from the debate.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to U.S. airports to assist TSA staff amid a partial government shutdown, which caused record delays at some hubs. The situation was compounded by the absence of pay for TSA workers, straining operations further.
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed views on the current economic climate, while a farmer in Alabama defended President Trump despite rising financial strain. The same sentiment was echoed by a supporter who saw value in the administration’s policies.
A notable event occurred at New York’s airport, where a passenger plane collided with a firefighting vehicle on the runway. BBC Verify analyzed the incident, noting no injuries were reported by Valero, a refinery operator.
The wreckage temporarily blocked access to one runway at a bustling New York City airport, disrupting flights. In a separate development, a yellow Labrador named
