Something we have never seen before: Artemis II crew’s first glimpse of Moon’s far side

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have shared their experience of observing the Moon’s far side for the first time. The crew, consisting of NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, has spent three days navigating the lunar orbit. “There’s a distinct feeling that this isn’t the Moon I’ve come to recognize,” Koch remarked, capturing the awe of the moment.

As of 23:00 BST on Saturday, the spacecraft was over 180,000 miles (28,968 km) from Earth, according to NASA’s tracking system. Meanwhile, a separate event at the ‘Great Marshmallow Drop’ saw more than 15,000 fluffy treats released from a helicopter, with children competing to collect them.

Trump’s legal ties and public reactions

The former prosecutor, who has represented President Trump in the hush-money case, continues to maintain a close association with the administration. At the Supreme Court, the BBC’s Ione Wells interviewed participants and demonstrators about Trump’s executive order. In Alabama, Gary O’Donoghue of the BBC spoke with a farmer who, despite economic strain, remains a supporter of Trump.

Protests and cultural critiques

A large demonstration against the Trump administration occurred in multiple U.S. cities, coinciding with the third No Kings rally. A provocative art piece titled “A Throne Fit for a King” was installed at the National Mall, symbolizing critiques of White House renovations. The New York City airport faced significant delays during a partial government shutdown, as TSA agents operated without pay.

Incidents at the airport

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to aid TSA at U.S. airports. A collision between a passenger plane and a firefighting vehicle on the airport’s runway resulted in no injuries, as reported by Valero to the BBC’s CBS partner. The wreckage temporarily blocked access to one of two runways, causing disruption.

Social media and public sentiment

Reactions emerged following a Los Angeles jury ruling that Meta and Google designed addictive platforms harming youth mental health. In her post-disappearance interview, Savannah Guthrie recounted discovering her mother’s absence and reflecting on whether her fame might have made her a target. A yellow Labrador named Tessie suffered no injuries during a recent incident and was safely returned to her yard.

Events and statements

The robot joined First Lady Melania Trump at the White House during a public appearance. Trump is set to host a summit on AI, education, and digital safety for children. Video footage from BBC Verify detailed the moments leading to a fatal collision with a fire truck at the New York airport. The CPAC conference in Texas featured mixed opinions on the current economic state among conservatives.

As the Supreme Court reviews Canada’s secularism law, Bill 21, some Muslim women expressed the personal cost of the legislation. An Air Canada flight carrying 72 passengers and four crew initially landed safely from Montreal before colliding with a firefighting vehicle, adding to the day’s headlines.