Key objectives and milestones:
Furthest distance ever traveled: Designed to travel farther from Earth than any humans have gone before,
reaching approximately 4,700 miles (7,600 km) beyond the Moon before returning to a splashdown in the
Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026.
Crew History: The mission includes the first woman (Koch), the first person of color (Glover), the oldest
person (Wiseman), and the first non-U.S. citizen (Hansen) to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Lunar Observation: On Day 6, the crew will reach its closest approach to the lunar surface (4,000–6,000 miles)
and become the first humans to directly view and photograph the far side of the Moon.
Mission Goals: The flight serves as a critical test for the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft,
validating life-support and communication systems for future lunar landings planned for 2028.
Re-entry: The spacecraft is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere at roughly 25,000 mph (40,000 km/h)
to conclude the mission.