‘Absolutely spectacular’: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon

Absolutely spectacular: Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon

The crew aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have shared their experience of observing the far side of the Moon for the first time. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency are on their third day in space, traveling around the Moon’s uncharted side before returning to Earth. “Something about you senses that it’s not the Moon I’m used to,” Koch remarked, capturing the unique awe of the moment.

NASA highlighted the crew’s photograph of the Orientale basin as the first complete view of the lunar feature by human eyes. According to the agency’s tracking dashboard, the Orion spacecraft is over 180,000 miles (289,681 km) from Earth as of 23:00 BST Saturday. Meanwhile, the annual “Great Marshmallow Drop” event saw thousands of treats fall from a helicopter, drawing children to collect them in a festive spectacle.

Separately, the former prosecutor has maintained a longstanding connection with President Trump, having defended him in a hush-money case. At a Supreme Court hearing, BBC’s Ione Wells interviewed protesters and attendees who voiced their views on Trump’s executive order. In the U.S., the average gas price has exceeded $4 for the first time since 2022, attributed to the ongoing Iran conflict.

BBc’s Gary O’Donoghue spoke with a farmer in Alabama, who, despite financial strain, still supports Trump. An art installation titled “A Throne Fit for a King” was placed on the National Mall, symbolizing critique of Trump’s White House renovation plans. Demonstrations against the Trump administration took place in cities nationwide, marking the third round of “No Kings” rallies.

The airport is facing prolonged delays due to TSA agents working without pay during a government shutdown. Conservatives at the Texas-based CPAC conference expressed mixed opinions on the current economic state. Reactions followed a Los Angeles jury ruling that Meta and Google intentionally created addictive platforms harming youth mental health.

In her first post-disappearance interview, Savannah Guthrie detailed the moment she learned of her mother’s absence and considered whether her fame could have drawn attention to her. A crash site at New York City’s airport blocked access to one of its two runways. The robot accompanying First Lady Melania Trump at the White House drew public interest during a recent event.

President Trump is hosting a summit on AI, education, and protecting children in digital spaces. A yellow Labrador Retriever named Tessie was unharmed after a fall and rescue, later returning to her yard. BBC Verify reviewed the events preceding a deadly collision involving a fire truck at the New York airport. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to assist TSA during the partial shutdown.

Val