A Canadian astronaut is taking part in a key moment of the Artemis II mission as the crew prepares to fly around the moon.
Jeremy Hansen and his crewmates are now within about 100-thousand kilometres of the lunar surface, with a flyby expected Monday.
The mission, the first crewed trip toward the moon in more than 50 years, launched last week and has already travelled more than 350-thousand kilometres from Earth.
Hansen was recently awarded his gold pin, marking his first spaceflight.
During the flyby, the crew will pass within roughly 65-hundred kilometres of the moon, capturing images and recording observations — including views of areas never seen directly by astronauts before.
A map of the Artemis II mission plan. (Via the NASA press kit.)
The spacecraft will then begin its return trip to Earth, wrapping up a 10-day mission designed to test systems ahead of future lunar landings.
