Astronauts on the Artemis II mission to orbit the moon are preparing for perhaps the most exciting phase of their journey.

The crew will travel more than 252,000 miles from Earth – a distance record for humans – before hanging a U-turn behind the moon and heading home.

The Artemis II crew has crossed the halfway mark on its journey to the moon, with NASA releasing new imagery Saturday morning on X as the four astronauts prepare for a historic flyaround that will take them farther from Earth than any human has traveled in more than half a century.

Artemis II hit a key milestone Thursday when Orion ignited its engine, propelling the crew on a trip that will reach deeper into space than any human has traveled.

The astronauts aboard the Artemis II’s Mission Orion capsule are set to witness a part of the moon no human has seen before. Bradley Blackburn reports.

Artemis II mission. The highly anticipated Artemis II lunar flyby will carry four astronauts on a historic journey around the moon today, including a rare look at its far

During their April 6 flyby, the Artemis 2 moon astronauts will snap an Earthrise photo that could inspire a new generation.

NASA’s Artemis II astronauts will travel 252,000 miles from Earth—surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 record. The mission gathers critical data for future lunar explorations, paving the way for Artemis III and IV.