Artemis II Crew Will Experience Lunar Communication Blackout
The four-astronaut mission will lose signal for 40 minutes as the spacecraft travels behind the Moon in 2026.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Do you believe the scientific benefits of lunar exploration justify the risks to human astronauts?
During the Artemis II mission on September 28, 2026, the four-person crew will experience a 40-minute communication blackout. This interruption will occur as the spacecraft travels behind the lunar body, blocking radio and laser signals.
Why it matters
Understanding this communication gap is essential for future deep-space navigation, as the European Space Agency plans to deploy a lunar satellite network to ensure continuous coverage. This mission highlights the current limitations of line-of-sight signal transmission in lunar exploration.
The Artemis II mission will endure a 40-minute communications void as the lunar mass obstructs line-of-sight radio and laser transmission. This duration is shorter than the 48-minute blackout experienced by Michael Collins during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
The players
European Space Agency
An international space research organization focused on satellite network deployment and deep-space infrastructure.
Goonhilly Earth Station
A facility located in Cornwall that provides critical ground-based tracking and monitoring for deep-space missions.
Artemis II
A crewed lunar mission carrying four astronauts to test navigation systems and lunar orbital flight protocols.
The details
The blackout occurs because the Moon acts as a physical barrier to radio and laser frequencies, which require a direct line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver on Earth. Tracking stations, including Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall, will monitor the spacecraft position and await the restoration of signals once the craft emerges from behind the lunar disc. The mission requires precise trajectory mapping to ensure signal reacquisition, as Houston mission control manages the re-establishment of communication links.
Timeline
1969: Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins experienced 48 minutes of signal loss.
Monday 23:47 BST: Artemis II crew experiences communication blackout.
- 2026-09-28
Scheduled date for the mission blackout event.
The Tech Race
The Artemis II mission reflects a continuing evolution in lunar flight, improving upon the signal loss metrics established by the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. Future satellite networks aim to render these temporary blackouts obsolete by providing continuous, non-line-of-sight relay capabilities.
This development serves as a operational baseline for crewed deep-space missions, defining the limits of current radio and laser communication. It underscores the technical requirements for the upcoming satellite networks intended to support sustained human presence around the Moon.
The takeaway
The Artemis II mission confirms that lunar signal blockages remain a fixed constraint for current space exploration hardware. Observers should track the future deployment of the European Space Agency's satellite network, which is designed to eliminate these recurring transmission gaps.
What happens next
The mission is scheduled for September 28, 2026, when tracking stations will monitor for signal restoration at the end of the 40-minute window.
Further reading
For broader context on deep-space navigation, visit our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
Live Poll
Do you believe the scientific benefits of lunar exploration justify the risks to human astronauts?
