Artemis II crew sets record for farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth

[0:01] This is an ABC News special report. Now reporting, David Muir. [0:07] Good afternoon. Great to be back on the air with you. [0:09] We're coming back on to mark a major milestone in space exploration, the Artemis II mission to the moon. [0:15] Of course, taking those four astronauts deeper into space than any humans have ever traveled before. [0:20] In fact, NASA is telling us at this hour that they broke the record at 1.56 Eastern time. [0:26] That's the record of distance traveled from Earth. [0:29] And look at this, just extraordinary. [0:31] We are now seeing the first images of this historic lunar flyby, which is now underway. [0:37] One of the most dramatic moments, of course, of this space flight. [0:40] The view of the far side of the moon, which is coming momentarily, and of course, never before seen by human eyes. [0:47] They're obviously going to see it for themselves. [0:49] Communication with Earth will be completely cut off. [0:53] The Artemis crew will become the most isolated humans alive for a short period of time. [0:57] But perhaps some of the most. [0:59] Enviable humans in the world, because they will get a chance to see the backside of the moon themselves. [1:06] It'll be an eerie silence for them and for us, combined, though, with stunning views of the moon. [1:12] Again, this lunar flyby is now underway. [1:15] We're not actually seeing the backside of the moon yet. [1:17] If all goes as planned, this mission will not only lead to landing on the moon again, that planned two years from now, [1:23] but it could also be the gateway to a permanent moon base and eventually more routine missions to Mars. [1:29] Listen in to NASA here for just a moment. [1:31] You nailed it on why we added Hertzsprung, as you'll see in the prompts. [1:35] We're looking for comparisons to the comparatively much older Hertzsprung compared to the younger Oriental. [1:40] Great words. [1:42] You're listening to Mission Control. [1:43] We're going to keep an ear on that in the control room the moment they start talking about this history and the making. [1:49] We will go back to them in the meantime. [1:51] Let's bring in Gio Benitez, of course, who's been following this mission very closely. [1:54] Gio, you spoke to the astronauts during their flight, which is also extraordinary. [2:00] What did they tell you about this opportunity that they knew was coming? [2:04] David, they said nothing about this is normal. [2:07] And isn't that true? [2:08] Because you and I are in awe watching this image right here as they get closer and closer to the moon. [2:13] They were about 20,000 miles away from Earth at that time. [2:16] So I don't think there's ever been a live interview quite that far from Earth. [2:21] But they were so excited to actually see this because they are going to see. [2:25] I'm here today with real life. [2:28] It's been seen by human eyes before. [2:30] Of course. [2:30] The Apollo missions did go around the moon, but they're going to be able to see in detail all these other areas that haven't been seen before. [2:37] And I heard them talking about registering their cameras and who's going to have the cards for the cameras as they take pictures, [2:44] because they're going to be taking images that will be used to land. [2:48] Eventually, they're going to decide based on these images where they should be landing two years from now. [2:53] And, of course, these images also being documented for National Geographic. [2:57] We're very proud of that project underway as well. [3:00] And again. [3:00] The history NASA telling us already having begun 156 Eastern was the moment they broke that distance marker, [3:08] traveling more than Apollo 13 did back in April of 1970. [3:12] Apollo 13 had traveled 248,655 miles. [3:17] Artemis 2 has now surpassed that. [3:19] They're now going to go behind the moon, the backside of the moon, which, of course, we've seen before, [3:24] but never with human eyes on it for themselves. [3:27] We've counted on technology up in space to do that. [3:30] Instead, humans will see this. [3:33] We will not be able to communicate with them as they actually make that flyby, the lunar flyby underway. [3:38] Now, let's listen in a mission control report from the window. [4:23] What do you make of that, Gio? [4:24] I mean, it's just remarkable that they are seeing this Earth, this planet Earth. [4:29] They are seeing it so small from one window and then they are seeing the moon so large and another as they get closer and closer and closer. [4:37] And you can also see, I believe you can see the basin here. [4:40] That's something else that they have been able to look at and really study. [4:45] They're very excited about seeing that particular basin there because that's something that they really wanted to study as well. [4:51] But again, David, the whole goal here is to eventually build that base on the moon to hopefully have a sort of pit stop in the universe to eventually get to Mars. [5:00] They're eventually going to get two hundred fifty two thousand miles away from Earth, and that is an extraordinary distance over 4000 miles away from the Apollo 13. [5:10] And so it's a network of [5:25] space missions in the space, space missions. [5:27] And of course, you can hear one of the astronauts there talking about their eyes focusing. [5:32] It sounds like us. [5:33] Just, you know, when we get up in the morning or when we're trying to read the teleprompter here on a nightly basis or eyes adjusting or whatever, but they're adjusting as they compare Earth and the moon and prepare to see the backside of the moon for the first time. [5:39] And that's extraordinary. And one of the things that they're going to be working on is feeling the gravity around that. Right. The moon's gravitational pull at this point won't be enough for that. One sixth of Earth's gravity. [5:39] The moon's gravitational pull at this point won't be enough for that one sixth of Earth's gravity. [5:39] And so it's going to be a lot of work. [5:39] Right. [5:39] Right. [5:39] gravity but they do want to test out emergency systems how to put the suits [5:44] on and off all of these things that astronauts are gonna have to do once [5:48] they make the moon their base let's listen in I know the crew has now [5:52] darkened the cabin so they have a better view of the moon let's listen spacecraft [5:56] the crew is equipped to 80 to with 80 to 400 millimeter zoom lenses there will be [6:14] a period of time when we don't hear from the astronauts at all when we will lose [6:17] communication with them that will be that sort of quiet historic moment for [6:22] them as well we're joined here at this hour by Susan Kilrain former NASA [6:26] astronaut who made history herself she was the youngest person one of only [6:30] three women to ever pilot the Space Shuttle Susan you're with us here this [6:34] afternoon and just your thoughts on the fact that they're gonna have this [6:37] extraordinary opportunity now yes hi David this is the day this is the day [6:44] that they've been training for or of course they got the launch and the fly [6:49] to the moon and they've been training for the launch and the fly to the moon [6:50] and they set a record but this flyby and their observations is the day they've [6:57] been looking forward to they're going to see parts of the moon that have never [7:01] been seen they're gonna photograph it they're gonna talk about it describing [7:06] what they see it's like a ballet inside Orion where there are two of them at the [7:13] window with two of them backing them up this is an exciting moment in space and [7:19] I could姐 i'd talk about it later the next will be [7:23] the wonderful traveling time while we keep of science programs and let you [7:26] know who it is and to do that I'm really excited and Susan talk to us I'm [7:30] sure you have this experience as well not this literal experience but moments [7:35] when there isn't communication just describe what that will be like for [7:37] these four astronauts obviously three of them american one canadian this moment [7:43] in time when they will not have a communication with mission control as [7:46] they're traveling on the backside of the moon yes in this particular case it will [7:50] I'm sure just their curiosity and amazement at what it is they'll be witnessing replaces any sort of anxiety of losing that momentary contact. [8:00] I suspect they're not feeling any anxiety at all being in that quiet far side of the moon because they're going to be deep and they're excited. [8:12] They're going to be photographing and recording. [8:16] Photograph and recording history, the backside of the moon. [8:19] Again, you're looking at the initial images NASA has provided of so far of this lunar flyby. [8:26] And the moment we get the other images, and certainly tonight for World News Tonight, we'll have whatever images NASA is able to provide us with. [8:33] So my thanks to Susan Kilrain-Giobanides here on the desk with me in New York. [8:38] You're looking at pictures right now. [8:39] The lunar flyby has begun. [8:41] The Artemis II crew has already made history traveling farther than any crew from NASA before, from Earth. [8:49] Making history in that way. [8:51] But set to make history again just moments from now when they get a view that none of us have ever had. [8:56] But we can't wait to see what they see. [8:58] Our coverage continues on ABC News Live, ABCNews.com. [9:01] And I'll be back for the entire broadcast tonight on World News Tonight at 6.30 Eastern. [9:06] We'll see you then with the latest from this historic mission. [9:08] I'll see you then. Good day. [9:09] This has been a special report from ABC News.