Artemis II Crew Shares First Images of Earth from Lunar Voyage
NASA's Artemis II mission releases initial photographs of Earth, showcasing auroras and zodiacal light, as the crew progresses toward the Moon.
NASA's Artemis II mission has released the first images of Earth captured by its crew during their journey toward the Moon. Commander Reid Wiseman took the photographs from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. One image displays Earth nearly eclipsing the Sun, with zodiacal light—a triangular glow caused by sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust—visible nearby. The photograph also captures the northern and southern auroras at Earth's poles. Another image shows Earth's terminator line, the division between day and night.
The Artemis II crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is collaborating with NASA's science team to identify additional photographic targets as they approach lunar orbit.
Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, aiming to test spacecraft systems and gather data to inform future missions, including potential lunar landings.