Scientists are already analysing the downlinked images, audio, and data, captured by the Artemis II crew, this week.
Four astronauts making up the crew, are expected to return back to earth from the moon, on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 8:07 p.m. EDT.
They have had a historic ten day mission, marked by new highs, where they circled the far side of the Moon, setting a record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth (252,756 miles).
The first flyby images, released on Tuesday this week, reveal some regions no human has seen of the moon, including a rare in-space solar eclipse.
The NASA astronauts are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut -Jeremy Hansen.
Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington, said “our four Artemis II astronauts — Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy — took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come.”
Fox also said information gathered including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface fractures, will help scientists study the Moon’s geologic evolution.
They monitored color, brightness, and texture differences across the terrain, observed an earthset and earthrise, and captured solar‑eclipse views of the Sun’s corona.
The crew also reported six meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened lunar surface.
Picture: NASA