‘Something we have never seen before’: Artemis II crew describe far side of Moon
‘Something we have never seen before’: Artemis II crew describe far side of Moon
Historic Lunar View
Nasa’s Artemis II mission has marked a milestone as its crew, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency member Jeremy Hansen, spends the third day of their journey orbiting the Moon’s far side. The team has shared vivid accounts of encountering a lunar landscape unlike any they’ve previously observed.
“Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing,” Koch remarked, reflecting on the unfamiliar terrain.
As of Saturday evening, the spacecraft’s distance from Earth reached over 180,000 miles (289,681 km), according to Nasa’s live tracking system. This phase of the mission offers a rare opportunity to study the Moon’s uncharted side from orbit.
Trump Administration Highlights
Protests against the Trump administration surged across the nation, with the third No Kings rally drawing crowds in major cities. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court faced scrutiny over Bill 21, a secularism law in Quebec, as Muslim women voiced concerns about its impact on their daily lives.
At the annual Great Marshmallow Drop, over 15,000 treats were released from a helicopter, creating a festive spectacle for children. Elsewhere, the ongoing Iran conflict continued to influence U.S. fuel prices, pushing the average gas cost above $4 for the first time since 2022.
Unexpected Airport Events
Large crowds gathered at New York’s busy airport following a collision between a passenger plane and a firefighting vehicle on the runway. BBC Verify detailed the sequence of events leading to the incident, which left no injuries reported, as per Valero’s statement to CBS.
The wreckage temporarily blocked one of two runways, contributing to record delays. During the partial government shutdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents assisted TSA staff, who operated without pay. A yellow Labrador Retriever named Tessie emerged unharmed after a sinkhole incident, with crews restoring the area.
Public Sentiment and Policy Debates
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed views on the current economic climate. The BBC’s Gary O’Donoghue spoke with a farmer in Alabama, who, despite financial strain, remains a vocal Trump supporter. Meanwhile, the former prosecutor’s close ties to the president were highlighted during his hush-money case.
As Trump prepares a summit on AI, education, and digital safety, the White House also hosted a robot alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Savannah Guthrie, in her first post-disappearance interview, recounted learning of her mother’s missing status and questioned whether her fame played a role in the incident.
Global and Cultural Context
An art installation titled “A Throne Fit for a King” stood at the National Mall, symbolizing a critique of Trump’s White House redesigns. The event also coincided with a legal development: a Los Angeles jury ruled that Meta and Google engineered addictive platforms, harming youth mental health.
News of the Moon’s far side exploration joined a broader narrative of national and international events, from airport disruptions to policy debates, underscoring the interconnected nature of global affairs and daily life.
