![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ca65ac6cf644f156ca4f8891f07fd31b.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission are rapidly approaching the moon, where certain features of the lunar landscape will be seen by humans for the first time ever. The space agency shared a tantalizing first glimpse on social media Monday morning.<\/p>\n
While the Apollo missions orbited the moon in the 1960s and 70s, they weren’t able to see the entirety of the far side, including the lunar poles, all at the same time. They also did not prioritize capturing images of the far side when it was illuminated.<\/p>\n
Also in the news: Trump Budget Seeks $1.5T In Defense Spending Alongside Cuts In Domestic Programs<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhen the Apollo missions launched, they prioritized launching into windows where the near side was illuminated because that\u2019s where the missions landed,\u201d Dr. Kelsey Young, lead for NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate, said at a news conference over<\/a> the weekend. \u201cThe far side was not illuminated at the time when they were in orbit.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Young said last week<\/a> that Artemis II will witness \u201cdefinite chunks of the far side that have never been seen\u201d by humans.<\/p>\n Link – twitter.com<\/a><\/p>\n Political UpdatesThis article<\/a> originally appeared on HuffPost. Support fearless, unflinching journalism that holds power accountable and relentlessly pursues the truth. Become a HuffPost member today<\/a>.