Artemis 2, attorno alla Luna e più lontani che mai dalla Terra
·3 min
The episode reports on the Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, as part of NASA's Artemis program. Six days after launch, on April 6, the mission achieved a historic milestone by surpassing Apollo 13's 1970 distance record, reaching over 405,000 km from Earth. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Once entering the Moon's sphere of influence, where lunar gravity prevails, the mission flew over the hidden side of the Moon. During this phase, which lasted almost six months, the crew documented the lunar surface using 32 cameras. Their observations included structures such as the Hertzsprung crater and the Eastern Sea, a large impact crater. On April 7, the capsule reached its closest approach to the Moon, at just over 6,500 km from the surface. Shortly after, it established a new record distance from Earth of about 406,700 km, a milestone the astronauts hope will soon be exceeded. The crew also witnessed a solar eclipse, where the Moon darkened the Sun for 53 minutes, allowing unique observations of the solar corona. Emotional moments included the astronauts' excitement at seeing the Moon up close and their proposal to name two craters Integrity and Carol. Integrity pays homage to a shuttle, while Carol honors Commander Wiseman's wife, who passed away in 2020. After the flyby, Artemis II entered the re-entry phase, with landing scheduled for the evening of April 10 at the California Arch. The mission signifies the return of humans to deep space after more than 50 years. It promises future efforts to return to the lunar surface with the goal of establishing a sustained presence. The episode is narrated by Gloria Nobile and is part of the AsiTvDaily podcast. The format is a concise news report, focusing on key events and milestones without extensive background or interviews. Recurring themes include record-breaking achievements, scientific observation, and emotional human elements in space exploration. The episode provides a straightforward account of the mission's progress and significance.
