In brief
During the Artemis II mission, astronauts will lose contact with Earth for approximately 40 minutes while passing behind the Moon. This moment of silence offers them a chance for reflection and observation of the lunar landscape, marking a historical connection to past lunar missions. Experts suggest that future technology may eliminate such communication blackouts, essential for a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
No-one will have been further from home than the Artemis astronauts. But as the Earth shrinks ever smaller in their rear-view mirror, they've had a constant connection with mission control in Houston, Texas. The calm words from the NASA team have given the crew a comforting link with home. That link is about to be lost. As the astronauts pass behind the Moon at about 23:47 BST (18:47 EDT) on Monday, the radio and laser signals that allow the back-and-forth communication between the spacecraft and Earth will be blocked by the Moon itself. For about 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be alone, each with their own thoughts and feelings, traveling through the darkness of space. A profound moment of solitude and silence.Artemis pilot Victor Glover expressed the hope that the world might use this time to come together in thought and prayer for the crew. When we're behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let's take that as an opportunity, he said.This blackout period is a mirror to the experiences faced by astronauts during earlier lunar missions, particularly Michael Collins during Apollo 11, who felt truly alone in the command module when communication was lost.Back on Earth, teams will be monitoring the situation anxiously, particularly at the Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall, where a massive antenna will track the spacecraft's position. Future technology developments may eliminate these communication blackouts, enhancing the potential for sustainable human presence on the Moon.For the Artemis astronauts, this time without contact allows them to focus on lunar observation, studying the Moon’s geology, and capturing stunning images during a historic moment. Upon reestablishing contact, the world will witness their breathtaking views from beyond Earth.
