Astronauts Reveal the Far Side of the Moon

Astronauts of the Artemis 2 mission have reached an unprecedented distance from Earth, passing over the far side of the Moon. This was reported by the BBC Russian Service.

According to NASA, the crew traveled to a distance of 406,771 kilometers from Earth, breaking the record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. The previous record stood at 400,171 kilometers.

The Orion spacecraft spent approximately 40 minutes behind the far side of the Moon, with its closest approach reaching 6,550 kilometers from the lunar surface. During this time, the astronauts captured images of the lunar landscape and studied craters and rock formations.

The collected data and video footage will provide a deeper understanding of the Moon's geological structure and help refine lunar maps. Scientists are paying particular attention to the polar regions, where ice deposits may exist.

Additionally, experts plan to study dust particles that move across the lunar surface due to the influence of sunlight and electrostatic forces. This research will help identify safe zones for planning future missions.

Currently, the Artemis 2 mission crew is on its way back to Earth.