The 40 minutes when the Artemis crew loses contact with the Earth
The 40 Minutes When the Artemis Crew Loses Contact With Earth
As the Artemis astronauts journey deeper into space, they will soon face a unique challenge: a 40-minute period of complete silence with Earth. This will occur when the crew passes behind the Moon at 23:47 BST on Monday, cutting off all radio and laser communications with mission control in Houston, Texas.
The reassuring voices from NASA’s mission control have provided the crew with a comforting connection to Earth. But this link will temporarily vanish, leaving the astronauts in a state of deep solitude and silence. During this time, they will be fully immersed in the vastness of space, each experiencing their own reflections on the mission.
“When we’re behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let’s take that as an opportunity,” said Artemis pilot Victor Glover to BBC News. “Let’s pray, hope, send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”
A Legacy of Isolation
Over 50 years ago, Apollo astronauts faced similar moments of disconnection. Michael Collins of Apollo 11, for instance, spent 48 minutes in isolation as his command module passed behind the Moon’s far side. In his 1974 memoir Carrying the Fire, Collins described feeling “truly alone” and “isolated from any known life,” yet he found peace in the quiet.
Later interviews revealed that the silence offered a rare escape from mission control’s constant instructions, allowing Collins to appreciate the serenity of space. This experience now echoes as Artemis prepares to test the same phenomenon.
Tracking the Silence
On Earth, the blackout will be a tense moment for teams like those at Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall. The facility’s massive antenna monitors the Orion capsule’s position, relaying data back to NASA HQ. Matt Cosby, Goonhilly’s chief technology officer, told BBC News: “This is the first time we’re tracking a spacecraft with humans on it. We’ll get slightly nervous as it goes behind the Moon, and then we’ll be very excited when we see it again, because we know they’re all safe.”
While the blackout is a temporary hurdle, it highlights the need for advanced communication systems. Cosby emphasized that sustained lunar presence requires uninterrupted connectivity, even on the Moon’s far side. Future projects, such as the European Space Agency’s Moonlight satellite network, aim to achieve this, ensuring reliable signals for extended missions.
For the Artemis crew, this period without contact will be a chance to focus entirely on lunar exploration. They will engage in detailed observations, capturing images and studying the Moon’s geology. As the signal re-establishes, the world will share in the relief of their safe return, and the astronauts will deliver their extraordinary insights to Earth.
