Artemis II Lunar Flyby to Include 40-Minute Communications Blackout

NASA has scheduled a communications blackout for the Artemis II mission as the Orion spacecraft travels behind the Moon on April 6, 2026. This planned loss of contact will last for approximately 40 minutes, according to NASA.

The interruption in communication is expected to begin at about 6:44 p.m. Eastern Time, when Orion moves out of direct radio line-of-sight with Earth. NASA stated that contact will be restored once the spacecraft emerges from behind the lunar surface.

During this period, the Artemis II crew will reach their closest approach to the Moon, coming within roughly 4,066 miles of the lunar surface. NASA confirmed that this phase of the mission will also see the crew surpass the previous record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.

The blackout occurs because the Moon physically blocks radio signals between Orion and ground-based networks, including NASA’s Deep Space Network. Despite the use of multiple communication systems, such as the Deep Space Network and Near Space Network, no signal can be maintained while Orion is behind the Moon.

What the numbers show

• Blackout duration is estimated at 40 to 41 minutes
• Closest approach to the Moon will be about 4,066 miles from the surface
• Scheduled loss of contact begins at 6:44 p.m. ET on April 6, 2026

Similar communications blackouts have taken place during previous lunar missions, including Artemis I and the Apollo program. These interruptions are a known aspect of missions where spacecraft pass behind the Moon and lose direct line-of-sight with Earth.

NASA’s mission control will monitor Orion’s trajectory and status before and after the blackout period. The agency has incorporated this planned loss of contact into its operational procedures for Artemis II.

Sources also describe the blackout as lasting about 41 minutes, depending on the spacecraft’s path and timing. The precise duration may vary slightly based on the mission’s real-time conditions.

NASA has outlined that all critical systems and communications will resume automatically once Orion reestablishes line-of-sight with Earth-based networks. The planned blackout is considered a routine aspect of lunar flyby operations.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.