• 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.