Artemis astronauts to study the Moon's surface using mainly their eyes

Artemis astronauts will fly around the Moon on Monday, marking humanity's first crewed lunar orbit in more than 50 years since the Apollo era. Rather than relying on sophisticated instruments, the crew will primarily use direct observation—their eyes—to study the Moon's surface features and geology. This approach echoes the methods used during Apollo missions, when astronauts made critical discoveries through visual inspection and note-taking. The mission serves as a crucial test of NASA's deep-space capabilities and life-support systems ahead of planned lunar landings later in the Artemis program. The data and observations gathered during the flyby will inform future missions designed to establish sustained human presence on the Moon.