‘Absolutely spectacular’: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon
Absolutely Spectacular: Artemis II Crew Witnesses Far Side of Moon
NASA’s Artemis II crew has shared their experience of observing the Moon’s far side for the first time. The team, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency representative Jeremy Hansen, are now on day three of their mission aboard the Orion spacecraft. Their journey will take them around the Moon’s unseen side before returning to Earth.
“There’s a distinct feeling that this Moon isn’t the one I’m accustomed to seeing,” Koch remarked.
The crew captured an image of the Orientale basin, a location where NASA confirmed the first human observation of the complete basin structure. By 23:00 BST on Saturday, the spacecraft had traveled over 180,000 miles (289,681 km) from Earth, according to tracking data.
Trump Administration Events
Conservatives at the annual CPAC conference in Texas expressed mixed opinions about the current economic climate. Meanwhile, large protests against the Trump administration occurred in U.S. cities, highlighting the third round of No Kings rallies. The installation “A Throne Fit for a King” was displayed on the National Mall, serving as a critique of White House renovations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been deployed to assist TSA during the partial government shutdown. At the New York airport, the longest delays in the U.S. were reported as TSA staff worked without pay. The wreckage of a plane blocked one of two runways at the busy New York City hub, though no injuries were reported by Valero, the refinery operator.
BBC Verify analyzed the moments leading to a deadly collision with a fire truck at the New York airport. Video footage showed the aftermath of a passenger plane crash with a firefighting vehicle. The airport’s chaos was compounded by the involvement of a robot that appeared with First Lady Melania Trump at the White House.
Other Developments
At the annual Great Marshmallow Drop, more than 15,000 fluffy treats were released from a helicopter, drawing children to collect them. A former prosecutor with ties to President Trump, who represented him in the hush-money case, has been linked to his administration. The BBC’s Ione Wells interviewed protesters and attendees outside the Supreme Court during a hearing on Trump’s executive order.
In Alabama, a farmer expressed continued support for Trump despite financial strain. Meanwhile, the average gas price in the U.S. surpassed $4, marking the first time since 2022, as the Iran war influenced fuel costs. Savannah Guthrie recounted her experience learning of her mother’s disappearance and the possibility that her fame made her a target in her first post-disappearance interview.
Following a Los Angeles jury’s decision that Meta and Google intentionally designed addictive social media platforms, reactions have emerged about the impact on young users’ mental health. The yellow Labrador Retriever named Tessie remained unharmed after a fall and rescue, returning to her yard after crews repaired the sinkhole.
