As Earth fades into a distant blue dot behind them, the crew have remained closely connected to mission control in Houston, Texas. The steady, reassuring voices from the Nasa team have served as a vital emotional anchor throughout the journey.

That connection, however, is about to disappear.

At around 23:47 BST on Monday, as the spacecraft moves behind the Moon, all radio and laser communications with Earth will be cut off. The Moon itself will block the signals, creating a complete communications blackout.

For nearly 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be entirely on their own, surrounded by the vast silence of space. It will be a rare and deeply reflective moment, marked by isolation and stillness.

Artemis pilot Victor Glover has encouraged people on Earth to turn this period into something meaningful. Speaking to BBC News before the mission, he said the blackout could be a moment for unity, urging people to offer prayers, hope and positive thoughts until communication is restored.

According to the BBC, this experience echoes earlier lunar missions, particularly that of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in 1969, Collins remained alone in the command module, orbiting the Moon. Each time his spacecraft passed behind the far side, he lost contact with both the lunar module and mission control for around 48 minutes.

In his 1974 memoir Carrying the Fire, Collins described feeling completely cut off from all known life, though not afraid or lonely. In later reflections, he spoke of the unexpected calm and clarity that came with the silence, free from the constant stream of instructions from Earth.

Back on Earth, however, such moments are far from peaceful. Teams responsible for tracking the spacecraft face heightened tension during every communication blackout.

At the Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall, engineers have been closely monitoring signals from the Orion capsule, mapping its trajectory and relaying data to Nasa. Chief technology officer Matt Cosby noted that this mission marks the first time they have tracked a crewed spacecraft in this way, adding that there is always a sense of nervous anticipation when contact is lost, followed by relief when the signal returns.

Looking ahead, space agencies are already working to eliminate these communication gaps. Continuous connectivity will be essential for future lunar operations, especially as plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon take shape.

Projects such as the European Space Agency’s Moonlight programme aim to establish a network of satellites orbiting the Moon, ensuring uninterrupted communication even on its far side.

For now, though, the Artemis astronauts will use this brief period of disconnection to focus entirely on their surroundings. During the blackout, they will observe the lunar surface, capture images and study its geological features, while also taking in the sheer beauty of the Moon.

When the spacecraft re-emerges and communication is restored, it will not only signal the crew’s safety but also allow them to share their extraordinary experience with the world once again.