Artemis II lunar science team members celebrate the lunar flyby -- jsc2026e020762

Artemis II lunar science team members, from left, Debra Needham, Juliane Gross, and Ryan Watkins, react to the astronauts' verbal observations of the Moon during their flyby on April 6, 2026. The science team trained the astronauts in geology and observation, both in the classroom and in the field. The team also built the lunar targeting plan that, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava