Artemis II Crew Reflects on Earth Views and Mission Progress

The Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, 2026, is carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon. A day after lift-off, the crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—shared their experiences from the Orion spacecraft.

Commander Wiseman described the view of Earth from space, noting the ability to see the entire globe from pole to pole, including continents and the northern lights. Mission Specialist Koch addressed a minor issue with the spacecraft's toilet, which was resolved promptly. Pilot Glover reflected on the unity of humanity, emphasizing that from space, Earth appears as one entity, highlighting the shared identity of all people.

The Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have traveled beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The crew is on a 685,000-mile journey around the Moon, known as a lunar flyby. The launch was successfully conducted from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mission Specialist Hansen recounted the moment of lift-off, expressing a sense of disbelief despite prior expectations.

Prior to speaking with the media, the crew completed a critical milestone: the translunar injection burn, which propelled the Orion spacecraft out of Earth's orbit toward the Moon. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator at NASA, described the maneuver as "flawless." She noted that from that point forward, the laws of orbital mechanics would carry the crew to the Moon, around its far side, and back to Earth.