Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon [video]

Far Side vs “Dark Side” and Mission Geometry

• Many were confused whether the image showed the far side; several note it’s mostly the familiar near side with a small sliver of far side visible.
• Multiple comments reiterate that “dark side” is a misnomer: the far side gets as much sunlight as the near side; it’s only fully dark around full moon from Earth’s perspective.
• Explanations clarify that Artemis II is on a trajectory to where the Moon will be, so from Orion’s offset viewpoint they can see a bit of terrain never visible from Earth, even before going fully behind the Moon.

Excitement vs Indifference and Real‑World Problems

• Some express awe at humans again viewing the Moon’s far side “with the naked eye,” calling it emotionally powerful.
• Others say it feels underwhelming: “been there, done that,” especially given Apollo-era achievements.
• A significant thread argues everyday struggles (rent, healthcare, inequality) make it hard to care about lunar flybys; others counter that hardship has always existed and spaceflight can still inspire.

Costs, Priorities, and “Whitey on the Moon”

• Multiple comments invoke Gil Scott‑Heron’s “Whitey on the Moon” to question spending on space while people lack basic needs.
• Counterpoints: NASA’s budget is tiny relative to military or healthcare spending; cutting spaceflight would not meaningfully fix poverty.
• Some see the poem as a valid perspective on inequality; others dismiss it as counterproductive resentment.

Artemis Architecture, Pork, and Alternatives

• Many criticize SLS/Orion as “pork” and corporate welfare (“Senate Launch System”), reusing old RS‑25 engines and discarding them in the ocean.
• Comparisons with Apollo and with SpaceX Starship: Artemis is seen by some as a costly, conservative Apollo repeat; others prefer “pork that produces moonshots” over pure defense spending.
• Some argue crewed Artemis II adds little new science; defenders stress testing deep‑space life‑support, heat shield, and operations with humans on board.

Media, Imagery, and Tracking Tools

• Several complain about weak public documentation: lots of crew-reaction video, relatively few high‑quality external Moon/Earth views.
• Others share live trackers and NASA visualization tools, with mixed feedback on usability and performance.

Politics, Religion, and Meta‑Discussion

• Strong disagreement over bringing religion (e.g., Bible readings) into broadcasts.
• Broader political debates arise (wars, fascism, inequality, billionaire influence), often overshadowing technical talk.
• Some lament pervasive cynicism and politicization in what they expected to be a mostly enthusiastic, technical community.