The 40 minutes when the Artemis crew loses contact with the Earth
The 40-Minute Silence of Artemis
As the Artemis crew ventures deeper into space, they will soon experience a moment of complete separation from Earth. For roughly 40 minutes, the astronauts will drift beyond the Moon’s reach, cutting off all direct communication with mission control. This brief period of solitude will mark a unique chapter in their journey, one where the usual connection to Earth disappears, leaving them in the vast emptiness of space.
During this time, the astronauts will be cut off from the voices of their team on the ground. The Moon will block radio and laser signals, creating a temporary blackout in their communication link. The silence will be profound, allowing each crew member to reflect in their own way. Victor Glover, one of the mission’s pilots, expressed hope that this moment could be a chance for people on Earth to unite. “When we’re behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let’s take that as an opportunity,” he said in an interview with BBC News. “Let’s pray, hope, and send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”
“When we’re behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let’s take that as an opportunity,” said Victor Glover. “Let’s pray, hope, and send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”
Similar moments of isolation were felt by Apollo astronauts decades ago. Michael Collins, who orbited the Moon alone during Apollo 11, described the experience of losing contact as a “profound moment of solitude and silence.” While his craft passed behind the Moon’s far side in 1969, communication with both the lunar surface and mission control vanished for 48 minutes. In his 1974 memoir *Carrying the Fire*, Collins noted the strange peace that came with the silence, calling it a respite from the relentless updates from Houston.
“For a sustainable presence on the Moon, you need the full comms—full 24 hours a day, even on the far side,” said Matt Cosby, Goonhilly’s chief technology officer. “The far side will want to be explored as well.”
Back on Earth, the blackout will test the patience of those monitoring the mission. At Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall, a massive antenna tracks the Orion capsule, relaying precise data to NASA headquarters. Matt Cosby shared that the team will feel a mix of nerves and anticipation during the 40-minute gap. “We’re going to get slightly nervous as it goes behind the Moon, and then we’ll be very excited when we see it again,” he explained. “We know they’re all safe.”
While this moment of silence is temporary, it highlights the challenges of maintaining a reliable communication network beyond Earth’s orbit. Future initiatives, such as the European Space Agency’s Moonlight project, aim to establish a satellite network around the Moon. This will ensure continuous connectivity, even when spacecraft are on the far side. For Artemis, the 40-minute blackout will serve as a focused time for lunar observation, with the crew capturing images and studying the Moon’s surface. When the signal returns, the world will eagerly listen to their accounts of the cosmos.