• Pommes_für_dein_Balg@feddit.org
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        7 days ago

        The previous moon missions all went into orbit around the moon (except for Apollo 13). This one only does a free return trajectory without completing a full moon orbit.
        Which means it loops around at greater distance and will be further away from the moon and from earth than previous manned moon missions.

        So they’re doing less than before and making it sound like it’s a new milestone.

        • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          So I didn’t know that, but I looked it up and its 3.8cm a year.

          The moon isn’t always the exact same distance from earth either, so that extra distance is pretty negligible compared to where it was on any given previous mission, that his statement isn’t necessarily true.

          • ylph@lemmy.world
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            7 days ago

            Artemis II will loop around the moon on a trajectory that will take it about 4500 miles farther away from Earth than any of the Apollo manned missions.

    • Gates9@sh.itjust.works
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      7 days ago

      Yeah but you can see the obvious absurdity in stating it. Hope they don’t get fried by the intense solar weather or smashed by one of these fireballs from the apparent debris field we’re traveling through.