The Artemis 2 Orion capsule, the first person to enter lunar space in over 50 years, has arrived in the sphere of influence, where lunar gravity exerts a more powerful pull than that of Earth. The mission's capsule was about 39,000 miles (62,764 kilometers) from the moon and approximately 232,000 from Earth. This makes them the first people to cross the lunar threshold since December 1972. They will not touch down on the moon or enter lunar orbit, but will participate in a history-making flyby that will allow them to study the moon's surface and geology, gathering data that could help scientists better understand its terrain and geological conditions. The astronauts will return home on Friday (April 10), ending their 10-day mission with a parachute-aided splashdown off the coast of San Diego.