The Artemis II mission will include a period of radio blackout lasting roughly 40 minutes as the spacecraft travels behind the Moon. During this interval, occurring around 23:47 BST on Monday, signals between the four astronauts and mission control in Houston will be blocked by the lunar body itself, leaving the crew in complete isolation from Earth communications.
Artemis pilot Victor Glover has characterized the blackout as an opportunity for reflection, encouraging people worldwide to use the time for prayer and positive thoughts directed toward the crew’s safety. The experience mirrors historical precedent, as Apollo astronauts also encountered communication losses during their lunar missions more than 50 years ago. Apollo 11’s Michael Collins experienced a 48-minute blackout while orbiting the Moon in 1969, an event he later described in his memoir as bringing a sense of peace and tranquility, despite the isolation.
During the communications gap, the astronauts plan to focus entirely on lunar observation activities, including photography, geological study, and direct observation of the Moon’s surface. Ground personnel at facilities such as Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall will experience heightened tension during the blackout, having tracked the Orion capsule throughout its journey. Station chief technology officer Matt Cosby noted that reestablishing contact will bring relief, as it will confirm the crew’s safety.
Looking forward, space agencies recognize that sustained lunar exploration and base development will require continuous communications coverage, including on the Moon’s far side. The European Space Agency’s Moonlight program and similar initiatives plan to deploy satellite networks around the Moon to eliminate future communication gaps and enable around-the-clock connectivity for ongoing exploration efforts.
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