Artemis II Astronauts Describe What They Observed on the Moon's Far Side: 'A Different Moon Entirely'
After their historic flyby, the Artemis II astronauts have shared their first detailed impressions of what they observed during their 54-minute pass over the Moon's far side — describing a landscap...
'Like a Different Moon Entirely': Artemis II Crew Shares First Impressions of the Lunar Far Side
After their historic flyby, the Artemis II astronauts have shared their first detailed impressions of what they observed during their 54-minute pass over the Moon's far side — describing a landscape starkly different from the familiar near side.
What They Saw
The astronauts described several surprising features visible from their vantage point:
- Dramatically different terrain — The far side is dominated by the massive South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the largest impact craters in the solar system
- Far fewer dark maria — The familiar "seas" that give the near side its face-like appearance are almost absent
- Heavily cratered surface — The far side bears the scars of billions of years of impacts with no protective atmosphere or geological activity to erase them
- No Earth visible — During the far side pass, Earth was completely hidden, creating an isolation the crew described as profound
The Psychological Impact
Commander Reid Wiseman described the moment Earth disappeared:
"You're looking at this ancient surface, and you realize no human has ever seen what you're seeing right now. And then you look up and realize there's no blue marble. Just darkness and stars. It changes something in you."
Scientific Observations
The crew was tasked with making observations that could inform future landing sites:
| Observation | Significance |
|---|---|
| South Pole-Aitken basin depth | Deep crustal material exposed — valuable for studying Moon's interior |
| Permanently shadowed craters | Water ice locations for future resource extraction |
| Landing site candidates | Flat areas near Shackleton crater for Artemis III |
Why the Far Side Matters
- Radio astronomy — The far side is permanently shielded from Earth's radio noise, making it ideal for sensitive observations
- Geological history — Different from the near side — may reveal why the two sides are so different (the "lunar dichotomy" problem)
- Resource potential — Water ice in permanently shadowed craters could sustain a permanent lunar base
- Strategic value — The far side could host future observatories and communication relays for deeper space missions
The Artemis II Far Side Timeline
- Entry into far side: Earth disappeared from view
- Maximum observation window: ~54 minutes
- Closest approach: ~80 km above the surface
- Exit: Earthrise — emotional moment captured in now-iconic photographs
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