Astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission are expected to reach the far side of the moon on Monday, venturing deeper into space than any humans before. The crew—three Americans and one Canadian—launched on Wednesday and are on course to break the record for maximum distance from Earth.
Pilot Victor Glover reported that 'the Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger' after a key thruster firing to exit Earth's orbit. The mission marks the first lunar-bound crew in over half a century, following the Apollo programme's end in 1972.
However, the Orion capsule's toilet has been malfunctioning since liftoff, with engineers suspecting ice blocking the urine line. Mission control has instructed astronauts to use backup urine collection bags until the issue is resolved. Deputy manager Debbie Korth noted that space toilets are 'always a challenge.'
Commander Reid Wiseman described speaking with his daughters from space as 'the greatest moment of my entire life.' The crew woke to Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' and enjoyed scrambled eggs and coffee for breakfast.
NASA released an image of the Orientale Basin, the moon's 'Grand Canyon,' which astronaut Christina Koch said no human eyes had seen before. The crew has undergone geology training to photograph lunar features, including ancient lava flows and impact craters.
The next milestone is entering the 'lunar sphere of influence' overnight Sunday into Monday. During the flyby, the crew will travel over 4,000 miles above the lunar surface, allowing them to see the moon's complete sphere, including polar regions.
