‘Absolutely spectacular’: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon
Absolutely Spectacular: Artemis II Crew Captures First Glimpse of Moon’s Far Side
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts have shared their first view of the Moon’s far side during their third day in orbit. The crew, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft on a trajectory that brought them around the Moon’s uncharted side before returning to Earth. “There’s something about this view that feels unfamiliar,” Koch remarked, reflecting on the stark difference from the Moon’s near side.
“Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing,” Koch said.
NASA confirmed the crew’s photo of the Orientale basin marked the first time the entire feature had been observed by human eyes. As of 23:00 BST Saturday, the spacecraft was over 180,000 miles (289,681km) from Earth, a distance that highlights the mission’s unprecedented scale.
Protests and Political Reactions
Across the United States, large demonstrations occurred in multiple cities, highlighting opposition to the Trump administration. These protests, known as the third iteration of No Kings rallies, coincided with a Supreme Court challenge to Bill 21, a secularism law. Muslim women involved in the movement claimed they bore the greatest personal cost of the policy’s implementation.
The BBC’s Ione Wells reported on the atmosphere outside the Supreme Court as attendees debated the implications of Trump’s executive order. Meanwhile, a farmer in Alabama, interviewed by Gary O’Donoghue, expressed continued support for the president despite economic hardships.
Travel and Security Updates
At a New York airport, record delays plagued travelers amid a partial government shutdown, with TSA agents operating without pay. The wreckage from a recent runway collision temporarily blocked access to one of the two runways, though no injuries were reported by Valero, a refinery operator. BBC Verify detailed the moments leading to the crash involving a fire truck.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to assist at the airport during the shutdown. A video captured the aftermath of the incident, showing the damage caused by the collision between a passenger plane and a firefighting vehicle.
Other Developments
In a separate event, over 15,000 marshmallows were dropped from a helicopter during the annual Great Marshmallow Drop, drawing cheers from children. The reactions to a recent jury verdict in Los Angeles, which found Meta and Google intentionally designed addictive platforms, added to the national discourse on digital health impacts.
Savannah Guthrie, in her first interview since her mother’s disappearance, recounted the moment she learned of the incident and considered whether her fame might have contributed to her mother’s vulnerability. Meanwhile, a yellow Labrador named Tessie remained unharmed after a sinkhole incident, with crews swiftly restoring the area.
Political and Public Engagement
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed views on the current economy. The summit hosted by Trump focused on AI, education, and safeguarding children in digital environments. A robot joined First Lady Melania Trump at the White House, underscoring the administration’s tech-centric initiatives.
The former prosecutor who represented Trump in the hush-money case maintained a close relationship with the president. As the nation grapples with rising fuel costs due to the Iran conflict, the average gas price in the U.S. surpassed $4 for the first time since 2022.