
NASA has shared the first breathtaking views of Earth taken from the Artemis II mission as the crew continues its journey toward the moon.
The photos reveal Earth behind the Orion spacecraft, our home planet aglow with aurora.
One photo of Earth, taken Thursday by Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion window, shows the planet backlit, with auroras visible at the top right and bottom left, Lakiesha Hawkins, deputy director for NASA’s Artemis program, said Friday during a news conference.
A zodiacal light is also visible at the bottom right as the Earth eclipses the sun, she said.
Another photo of Earth, also taken by Wiseman, shows a terminator line, meaning the line separating daylight and nighttime on the planet.
“What an amazing shot that he shared with us here,” she said.
The photos were taken after completing the translunar injection burn Thursday.
Hawkins said Friday, the third day of the Artemis II mission, that so far systems are normal and “the crew is in great spirit.”
The four crew members — NASA astronauts Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — launched Wednesday on the 10-day mission.
As of Friday, the crew is more than 100,000 miles from Earth, with about 150,000 miles to go to the moon.
The mission does not include a lunar landing, but is designed as a step toward a landing in 2028.
The next major milestone for the space pioneers will be Monday, when the crew is expected to fly around the moon.
That flyby could mark the farthest venture from Earth made by humans, surpassing the distance record of 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LATEST POSTS
- 1
4 Excellent Remote Headphones of 2024 - 2
Cannabis reclassification could 'open the floodgates' for research, scientists say - 3
Surging measles cases are 'fire alarm' warning that other diseases could be next - 4
Alleged Huione Group Money Laundering Boss Extradited to China - 5
Watch India launch advanced military satellite on rocket's 1st flight since May 2025 failure
April’s full pink moon will rise in the night sky this week
People are getting their news from AI – and it’s altering their views
When is MLK Day? Plus, the dates of when other federal holidays land in 2026.
Down to earth Manual for A Modest Hyundai Ioniq Electric for Seniors
They relied on marijuana to get through the day. But then days felt impossible without it
Vote in favor of Your #1 Home Exercise Gear: Execution and Comfort Matter
Most loved Well known Accessory Styles For 2024
Cheetah, Hammerhead Shark, and 38 Other Animals in Danger of Extinction Receive New International Protections from U.N.
Deadly heat worldwide prompts $300 million for climate health research at COP30













