How close did NASA astronauts get to the lunar surface during the Artemis mission?

During the Artemis mission, NASA astronauts came the closest to the lunar surface that humans have been in over 50 years. While they did not land on the moon, their trajectory brought them in close proximity to it as they swung behind it, a maneuver that allowed them to break distance records and test critical systems for future lunar landings. This close approach is significant because it represents the nearest human presence to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The mission's success in navigating this path demonstrates NASA's renewed capability to conduct complex operations near the moon, setting the stage for planned crewed landings under the Artemis program. This achievement underscores the progress toward sustainable lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars.

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