Watch: Artemis II’s historic lunar flyby… in 90 seconds
Watch: Artemis II’s historic lunar flyby… in 90 seconds
Nasa’s Artemis II crew reached a new distance from Earth, surpassing all previous records in human spaceflight. Their journey included a striking lunar flyby, capturing rare views of the planet from beyond the Moon’s shadow. During the maneuver, the Orion capsule briefly lost communication with mission control, as anticipated, cutting off contact for 40 minutes.
“It’s so great to hear from Earth again,” remarked astronaut Christina Koch upon reestablishing contact.
As the team ventured into the Moon’s orbit, they observed a total solar eclipse, with the Moon blocking sunlight for a brief period. This event marked a pivotal moment in their mission before they initiated their return to Earth. President Trump later addressed the crew, praising their achievement: “Today, you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud.”
Other News Highlights
During the annual “Great Marshmallow Drop,” over 15,000 marshmallows were dropped from a helicopter, creating a chaotic scramble for children below. Meanwhile, the BBC’s Ione Wells reported on reactions from protesters and attendees gathered outside the Supreme Court during a hearing on Trump’s executive order.
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed opinions about the current economic climate. The average gas price in the U.S. rose above $4, hitting levels not seen since 2022, fueled by ongoing tensions with Iran. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to assist TSA staff during a partial government shutdown, which has caused prolonged delays at several airports.
Valero, a refinery operator, confirmed no injuries were reported after a collision between a passenger plane and a firefighting vehicle on a New York airport runway. BBC Verify analyzed the sequence of events leading to the accident, highlighting the critical moments before the crash. The wreckage temporarily disrupted access to one of the airport’s two runways.
A yellow Labrador named Tessie remained unharmed after a sinkhole incident near the White House, where she appeared with First Lady Melania Trump. The installation “A Throne Fit for a King” was unveiled at the National Mall, serving as a commentary on Trump’s White House renovations. Large demonstrations against his administration occurred in multiple U.S. cities, including the third No Kings rally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were supporting TSA operations during the shutdown. The robotic dog made headlines after appearing at a White House event. In a recent interview, Savannah Guthrie reflected on her mother’s disappearance, questioning whether her celebrity status contributed to the tragedy.
Air Canada’s flight carrying 72 passengers and four crew members landed safely from Montreal before colliding with a firefighting vehicle. The incident followed a jury ruling in Canada that linked Meta and Google to the design of addictive social media platforms. The aftermath of the crash was captured in video footage, underscoring the risks of runway collisions during heightened operational stress.
Read more about the Artemis II mission and other developments in the latest news updates.
