Artemis II Astronauts Capture Stunning Earth Images En Route to Moon
NASA's Artemis II crew shares breathtaking photos of Earth as they journey toward the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
NASA's Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, 2026, has released the first images of Earth captured by its crew as they travel toward the Moon. The photographs, taken by Commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft, showcase Earth's vibrant blues and browns, with swirling clouds and a green aurora illuminating the atmosphere.
The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, successfully executed a crucial engine burn on April 2, propelling them out of Earth's orbit and setting them on course for a lunar flyby. As of April 3, the spacecraft was approximately 90,000 miles from Earth, with another 168,000 miles to reach the Moon, expected by Monday.
This mission marks the first crewed lunar journey since Apollo 17 in 1972. The Artemis II crew will orbit the Moon without landing, performing a U-turn before returning to Earth. The mission aims to pave the way for future lunar landings and the establishment of a Moon base in the early 2030s.