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Orion Spacecraft Passing the Moon and the Artemis Mission

Saturday, May 9, 2026
5 min read
Orion Spacecraft Passing the Moon and the Artemis Mission

That video is circulating everywhere right now. It shows the Orion spacecraft just passing the Moon. You can see the craters and the ridges, sharp details. It’s a rare shot, almost like looking at the Moon from way down low. It’s grabbing all the attention.

And then, of course, Elon Musk shared it on X. Caption: “NASA Artemis Passing Close To The Moon.” Just that.

It marks something huge. The first time in over fifty years that humans have actually traveled around the Moon. They got super close, about four thousand miles to the lunar surface. They snapped pictures of spots no one had ever seen before.

But the real sticking point? The blackout. When the craft moved behind the Moon, communication just cut out. Forty minutes of silence. No contact with NASA at all. The Moon just blocked the signals.

NASA says it’s just a stepping stone. A way to plan for actual landings, for people living on the Moon long-term. And eventually, Mars. That’s the big picture.

Right now, the Artemis II mission is heading back. It’s on its way home, supposed to end with a splashdown in the Pacific.

Christina Koch, one of the crew, she said something pretty simple. “It is so great to hear from Earth again.” She added, “We will always choose Earth; we will always choose each other.” Just that.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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