Business of Space

NASA Moon Crew Had to Study What to Look For During Historic Lunar Flyby

Extensive surface studies included simulations with an inflatable moon.

Captured by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby on April 6, this image shows the moon fully eclipsing the Sun.Source: NASA

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By Sana Pashankar

April 8, 2026 at 2:01 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Greetings astrophiles, it’s Sana Pashankar in Washington. We’ve got details about how the Artemis II crew prepared to get closer to the lunar surface than anyone in over half a century. But first ...

Three things you need to know today: