Trending Now - Artemis II Astronauts to View Unexplored Lunar Region

WHO:

NASA is the organization conducting the Artemis II mission.

The crew of Artemis II consists of astronauts who have trained together for almost three years.

WHAT:

Artemis II astronauts will be the first humans to see Mare Orientale in its entirety.

Mare Orientale is an impact basin more than 900 km wide, one of the largest features on the Moon.

The crew will be flying at a higher altitude than previous missions, allowing for ‘wide angle’ views of the Moon.

The crew will photograph Mare Orientale when it is illuminated by sunlight, unlike previous observations.

WHERE:

Mare Orientale is located on the far side of the Moon.

WHEN:

The Artemis II mission is set to take place in 2026.

The Apollo 8 mission, which first passed the far side of the Moon, occurred in 1968.

The Apollo 17 mission, during which Ronald Evans photographed portions of Mare Orientale, took place from December 7th to December 19th, 1972.

Mare Orientale was formed approximately 3.7 billion years ago.

WHY:

The mission aims to provide new insights into the structure and history of Mare Orientale.

HOW:

The crew of Artemis II will use various cameras to capture images of Mare Orientale.

The crew will be flying over Mare Orientale when it is fully illuminated by the Sun, allowing for clear images without reliance on Earthshine.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 23:21 UTC)

NASA is gearing up for the Artemis II mission, which will see a crew of astronauts who have trained together for nearly three years become the first humans to view Mare Orientale in its entirety. This massive impact basin, located on the far side of the Moon and measuring over 900 kilometers wide, will be photographed by the crew as they fly at a higher altitude, capturing stunning images illuminated by sunlight. Set to take place in 2026, this mission aims to provide new insights into the structure and history of Mare Orientale, which was formed around 3.7 billion years ago.