NASAThe Artemis 2 mission completed another difficult milestone when it restored basic communications with mission control after about 40 minutes of darkness. When the Orion spacecraft passed the far side of the moon, radio communications were completely lost due to the moon’s obstruction. This “loss of signal” (LOS) time is a true test of the crew’s ability to operate independently and the spacecraft’s automated systems. At 7:24 PM EDT (EDT) on April 6, 2026, the crew reestablished contact with mission control and reported that all systems were operating as expected. This is the furthest distance humans have ever traveled into deep space, and it also lays the foundation for the mission’s return.
NASA’s Orion Silence behind the moon before witnessing rare total solar eclipse
According to NASA, at 6:44 pm EST on April 6, 2026, Orion passed behind the moon (blocking NASA’s Deep Space Network signal), causing a communications outage. Orion then made its first close flyby of the moon at 7:02 pm ET, flying only 4,067 miles above the lunar surface. After resuming communications with the spacecraft, the Artemis 2 mission entered a unique eclipse phase at 8:35 pm ET, where the crew experienced a 53-minute total solar eclipse (the moon completely blocks the sun) from the perspective of Orion, providing them with an opportunity to study the corona (the sun’s outer atmosphere) without interference from direct sunlight.
Orion surpasses historic deep space record
At 7:07 pm ET, the Artemis 2 crew officially broke the previous distance record for humans from Earth. Orion’s maximum distance from Earth reached 252,756 miles, 4,111 miles farther than the 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 astronauts in April 1970. Artemis 2 achieved this milestone while its crew used high-resolution imagery to conduct high-altitude lunar observations (collecting lunar mineral and geological data).
NASA prepares for splashdown on April 10
When Orion rose above the moon at 7:25 pm EST, Mission Control received a signal from Orion, and astronauts witnessed the beautiful “Earthrise.” Over seven hours, the crew was able to use this observation time to visually confirm and document different parts of the moon, such as the Vostok and Hertzsprung basins. The spacecraft is currently on a free-return orbit, using the gravity of the Earth and the moon to return astronauts to the Pacific Ocean, where it splashed down on April 10.
How NASA and the U.S. Navy will recover Orion
NASA and the U.S. Navy have begun the mission recovery phase to bring the crew home safely. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Musa has departed Naval Base San Diego and arrived at the designated recovery area. The ship has special equipment, including recovery racks, high-speed craft and other tools, specifically designed to recover the Orion capsule from the high seas. NASA’s Ground Exploration Systems team is on board to coordinate the High Seas Recovery operation.As of now, Mission Control is waiting for the exact time of splashdown. The planned splashdown is April 10 at 8:07 PM ET (5:07 PM PDT). The planned splashdown site is also in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles offshore of San Diego, California. Navy divers will use a “horse collar” to secure the capsule to stabilize it during splashdown, then winch the capsule into the submerged well deck of the USS John P. Kennedy. Murtha. This procedure allows for the coordination of recovery operations, which will allow for the safe recovery of the astronauts and the return of the spacecraft for post-flight analysis.
