NASA astronaut Victor Glover described seeing regions of the Moon that no other human has ever observed during the Artemis II mission.
These observations mark a significant milestone in lunar exploration as NASA prepares for future crewed landings. The mission provided the first opportunity for humans to view the lunar far side from a crewed spacecraft in decades.
Glover, who served as the pilot of the Orion spacecraft, said in an interview with CNET about the experience of manually flying the craft. He noted that the flight allowed him to see parts of the lunar surface that had remained hidden from human eyes until this mission.
The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026 [1]. The crew consisted of four astronauts [2] who traveled to the Moon and back over a duration of nine days, one hour, and 32 minutes [3].
During the journey, the crew performed a flyby of the far side of the Moon on a Monday night in mid-April 2026 [4]. This specific trajectory allowed the astronauts to observe the lunar terrain that is never visible from Earth.
Glover said the experience of piloting the Orion spacecraft provided a unique perspective on the lunar environment. The mission serves as a critical test for the systems and crew procedures required for the eventual return of humans to the lunar surface.
Because the far side of the Moon is shielded from Earth, the crew's visual observations and the spacecraft's data collection are vital for mapping the region. Glover's role as pilot was central to executing the complex maneuvers required to achieve these views.
“Victor Glover described seeing regions of the Moon that no other human has ever observed”
The Artemis II mission validates the manual piloting capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the viability of crewed flybys. By observing the lunar far side, NASA is gathering essential human-centric data that complements robotic mapping, bridging the gap between unmanned probes and the planned permanent lunar presence.
