Watch: Artemis II’s historic lunar flyby… in 90 seconds
Artemis II’s Historic Lunar Flyby
NASA’s Artemis II crew achieved a milestone by traveling farther from Earth than any human in history, capturing rare views of the planet from the Moon’s shadow. During their mission, the Orion spacecraft temporarily lost communication with mission control for 40 minutes as the team orbited behind the Moon.
“It’s so great to hear from Earth again,” said astronaut Christina Koch after reestablishing contact.
The astronauts also observed a total solar eclipse, with the Moon casting its light across the Sun before they began their return journey. President Trump addressed the crew, expressing pride: “Today, you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud.”
Other News Highlights
The annual “Great Marshmallow Drop” event saw over 15,000 treats fall from a helicopter, sparking a race among children to collect them. A former prosecutor, who had previously worked with President Trump on a hush-money case, shared insights from a Supreme Court hearing. Meanwhile, fuel prices in the US hit $4 at the pump, a level not seen since 2022, driven by ongoing tensions with Iran. In Alabama, a farmer discussed his continued support for Trump despite financial strain.
Artists installed a sculpture named “A Throne Fit for a King” at the National Mall, critiquing Trump’s White House renovations. Protests against his administration spread across major US cities, featuring the third “No Kings” rally. At New York’s airport, prolonged delays were reported as TSA agents operated without pay during a government shutdown. Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed opinions about the current economic climate.
Recent legal developments highlighted concerns over social media’s impact on youth mental health, following a Los Angeles jury’s finding that Meta and Google designed addictive platforms. Savannah Guthrie, in her first post-disappearance interview, described discovering her mother’s whereabouts and reflecting on her fame’s role in the incident. A yellow Labrador named Tessie emerged unharmed from a sinkhole at the airport, with crews repairing the damage.
Video footage from BBC Verify detailed the moments leading to a fatal collision between a passenger jet and a fire truck at the New York airport. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents assisted TSA during the partial shutdown. No injuries were reported in the crash, according to Valero, a refinery operator. An Air Canada flight carrying 72 passengers and four crew initially landed safely in Montreal before colliding with a firefighting vehicle on the runway.
