NASA has released the first scientific data from the Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission marked the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The data collected during the ten-day mission include 814 gigabytes of observations, 996 images, 521 minutes of previously unreleased crew audio recordings, and notes and handwritten sketches from the astronauts. The data provide insights into phenomena such as impact flashes on the Moon's surface and color variations on its far side. During the mission, the astronauts reported five impact flashes during a solar eclipse while on the far side of the Moon, where communications with Earth were intentionally interrupted. Although the astronauts had cameras, they were unable to photograph the flashes, which were too brief to be captured. Scientists concluded that the flashes were caused by small rock fragments traveling at thousands of kilometers per hour, based on analysis of the observations. These flashes are likely the least luminous impact flashes ever observed with the naked eye, with the rock fragments estimated to be only a few centimeters in diameter. The astronauts also described a range of colors on the Moon's surface, including shades of gray, black, brown, beige, white, green, and blue. These variations provide insight into the Moon's geological diversity and could help better understand its evolution. Blue tones may be associated with titanium-rich volcanic rocks, brown tones with variations in iron content, and green tones with the presence of glass formed during volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts. The data can also be compared with those collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to help identify future lunar exploration sites. The Artemis II astronauts also observed the moving boundary between the lunar day and night, known as the "terminator." NASA asked them to study this boundary closely, as the lighting conditions there resemble those near the Moon's south pole, where future crewed landings are planned. The crew was able to distinguish many details of the region's topography and the shapes and different textures of the lunar landscape. Victor Glover, pilot of Artemis II, described the terminator as "fantastic" and noted the rugged terrain and areas of terrain completely plunged into darkness, indicating a real variation in the relief. These data will contribute to the preparation of the next missions in the Artemis program. Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, is intended to send a crew into Earth orbit to test rendezvous and docking operations between Orion and one or two commercial landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. This step is intended to prepare Artemis IV, a crewed mission that, according to the current architecture of the program, plans for a lunar landing. "Now it's up to the scientific community to take these data and do extraordinary things with them," said David Hollibaugh Baker, a member of the Artemis II lunar science team, during a press conference dedicated to the mission's first scientific results.