The crew of the Artemis 2 mission has successfully reached the Moon’s sphere of influence. NASA announced that this significant milestone was achieved on Easter Monday at 6:42 AM Central European Time.
Technically, the lunar sphere of influence is not a physical boundary but rather a mathematical demarcation indicating that the spacecraft is operating in close proximity to the Moon. Crossing this threshold is considered a major success for NASA, marking the first time astronauts have entered this zone in over half a century-the last recorded instance being with the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The four astronauts aboard the mission aim to set a new record by circumnavigating the Moon, potentially taking them farther from Earth than any humans before them. Ultimately, this mission serves to prepare for planned crewed lunar landings scheduled from 2028 onward, and it also marks the beginning of NASA’s large-scale plans for establishing a permanent lunar base.