Artemis 2 crew face communications blackout as astronaut says 'let's pray'

Artemis 2 crew face communications blackout as astronaut says 'let's pray'The blackout comes as the Artemis 2 crew prepare to pass behind the Moon today, with astronauts using the silence as an opportunity to pray they'll 'get back in contact' with mission controlCommentsNewsZahra Khaliq News Reporter12:34, 06 Apr 2026Updated 13:23, 06 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesArtemis 2 astronauts will be passing behind the Moon today(Image: NASA via Getty Images)The Artemis 2 mission is facing a communications blackout with astronauts planning to pray as their spacecraft loses it's connection with ground control for 40 minutes.‌The blackout will occur as astronauts pass behind the Moon at around 23:47pm UK time (18:47pm EDT) today. It will be the first time the crew will lose contact with mission control in Houston, Texas, since their journey began on April 1.‌This is because radio and laser signals that keep the team in constant back-and-forth communication with Earth will be blocked by the Moon itself.‌Artemis pilot Victor Glover says the team will use the silence as an opportunity to come together and pray that they'll "get back in contact with the crew".View 3 ImagesArtemis 2 astronauts will lose connection with mission control today(Image: AP)"When we're behind the Moon, out of contact with everybody, let's take that as an opportunity," he told the BBC. "Let's pray, hope, send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew."‌Those on Earth working to maintain contact with the spacecraft say they'll be "slightly nervous" as communication briefly stops. The Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall has been collecting signals from the Orion capsule and feeding information back to Nasa HQ.Chief technology officer Matt Cosby said it will be the first time the team are tracking a spacecraft with humans on it."We're going to get slightly nervous as it goes b...