‘Absolutely spectacular’: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon
Absolutely Spectacular: Artemis II Crew Witnesses Moon’s Far Side
Nasa’s Artemis II crew has captured the first view of the Moon’s far side, sharing their awe with the public. The astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency member Jeremy Hansen—are now on their third day in orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will complete a journey around the Moon and return to Earth. During the mission, Koch remarked on the unfamiliarity of the scene, saying, “There’s a different feel to this side of the Moon than what I’m accustomed to.”
“Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I’m used to seeing,” Koch said.
The team’s photograph of the Orientale basin, taken during their lunar pass, marks a historic milestone. NASA confirmed it was the first time the entire basin had been observed by human eyes. As of 23:00 BST on Saturday, the spacecraft was over 180,000 miles (289,681 km) away from Earth, according to Nasa’s tracking dashboard.
Global Events and Political Commentary
At the annual “Great Marshmallow Drop,” over 15,000 treats descended from a helicopter as children scrambled to collect them. Meanwhile, a former prosecutor maintains a close ties with President Trump, having defended him in the hush-money case. The BBC’s Ione Wells reported on public sentiment outside the Supreme Court during a hearing on Trump’s executive order, where protesters and attendees voiced mixed reactions.
The average gas price in the U.S. has exceeded $4 for the first time since 2022, driven by ongoing tensions with Iran. Gary O’Donoghue of the BBC interviewed a farmer in Alabama who, despite financial strain, still backs Trump’s leadership. A symbolic installation titled “A Throne Fit for a King” was unveiled on the National Mall, critiquing the White House’s recent renovations.
Protests and Public Infrastructure
Mass demonstrations against the Trump administration occurred in multiple U.S. cities, with No Kings rallies marking their third edition. The New York City airport faced severe delays due to a partial government shutdown, as TSA staff operated without pay. A collision between a passenger plane and a firefighting vehicle on the runway was captured in video, while BBC Verify analyzed the moments leading to the incident.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to assist TSA at U.S. airports during the shutdown. Valero, a refinery operator, stated no injuries were reported in the incident. Meanwhile, a yellow Labrador Retriever named Tessie remained unharmed after a fall and subsequent rescue, returning to her yard unscathed.
Technology and Society
Recent legal findings in Los Angeles revealed that Meta and Google were intentionally designed to create addictive social media platforms, harming young users’ mental health. In a post-disappearance interview, Savannah Guthrie recounted learning of her mother’s disappearance and reflected on whether her fame made her a target.
Conservatives at the CPAC conference in Texas expressed varied opinions on the current economic climate. Trump’s upcoming summit on artificial intelligence, education, and child safety in digital spaces has drawn attention, with a robot accompanying Melania Trump at the White House as part of the event.
Bill 21 and Its Impact
As Canada’s secularism law, Bill 21, faces judicial scrutiny, some Muslim women have highlighted the personal costs of the legislation. A separate incident involved an Air Canada plane carrying 72 passengers and four crew members that landed safely in Montreal before colliding with a firefighting vehicle.
