WASHINGTON: Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have set a new record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, marking a major milestone in the first crewed lunar mission in over five decades.

Four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — crossed the historic threshold six days into their mission, travelling 248, 655 miles from Earth and eventually reaching about 252, 756 miles at the farthest point of their journey.

The milestone surpasses the previous record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, establishing a new benchmark in human spaceflight.

“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity, ” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.

“Their dedication is about more than breaking records – it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base, ” she added.

The crew is currently on a 10-day mission designed to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in a deep space environment with astronauts onboard. The mission includes a lunar flyby before returning to Earth.