A milestone for Artemis II: Astronauts enter the 'lunar sphere of influence'
By Denise Chow
Published on April 6, 2026.
The Artemis II astronauts have entered the 'lunar sphere of influence', a region where the moon's gravitational pull is stronger than Earth's. This milestone is a significant milestone for NASA and represents the first time astronauts have done so so in over half a century. The Orion spacecraft entered the area around 12:41 a.m. ET Monday, crossing into the lunar sphere. The astronauts will conduct observations of the moon and photograph parts of the surface previously unseen. They will also study the Hertzsprung basin on the moon’s far side, which has been degraded by subsequent lunar impacts. The mission will also include a live coverage of the flyby by NASA.
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