The Artemis II crew will experience a communications blackout lasting roughly 40 minutes when their spacecraft passes behind the Moon at approximately 23:47 BST on Monday. During this period, radio and laser signals connecting the four astronauts to mission control in Houston, Texas will be blocked by the Moon itself, leaving the crew in complete isolation from Earth.
Artemis pilot Victor Glover has characterized the moment as an opportunity for reflection, suggesting that people on Earth use the time to pray and send positive thoughts toward the crew. This experience echoes historical precedent, as Apollo astronauts experienced similar signal loss during their lunar missions more than 50 years ago. Most notably, Apollo 11’s Michael Collins spent 48 minutes out of contact while orbiting the Moon in 1969. Collins later described the experience as one of profound solitude, noting in his memoir that while he felt truly alone and isolated, he did not experience fear or loneliness. He characterized the radio silence as peaceful and tranquil.
For mission personnel on Earth, the blackout period will present its own challenges. The Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall has been tracking the Orion capsule throughout the mission using a large antenna. According to Matt Cosby, the facility’s chief technology officer, staff members anticipate experiencing nervousness during the communications dropout and will be relieved upon signal reestablishment, which will confirm the crew’s safety.
The blackout represents a temporary limitation in current space communications technology. However, space agencies are developing solutions for continuous coverage. The European Space Agency’s Moonlight program is planning to deploy a network of satellites around the Moon to provide uninterrupted communications, essential for sustaining a lunar base and enabling exploration of the Moon’s far side.
During their time without contact, the Artemis astronauts plan to focus entirely on lunar observation, capturing images and studying the Moon’s geology. Once signal is restored and they emerge from the Moon’s shadow, they will be able to share their observations with the world.
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