
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
Shelby County deputies charged with assault, placed on leave - 2
Kids with smartphones by age 12 are at higher risk of health issues, study finds - 3
In these U.S. groups, deaths now exceed births. What’s happening? - 4
6 Eyewear Brands Worth Purchasing - 5
Cognizant Couture d: A Survey of \Moral Decisions and Sharp Looks\ Maintainable Style
Find the Specialty of Public Speaking: Drawing in and Convincing Crowds with Certainty
People are getting their news from AI – and it’s altering their views
Find Serenity: 10 Stunning Setting up camp Areas
Find the Wonders of the Silk Street: Following the Antiquated Shipping lanes
They died 'doing what they loved': The stories of workers in their 80s who died on the job
Jamaica reports deadly leptospirosis outbreak after Hurricane Melissa
Little Italy Mercato brings fresh food and community to downtown San Diego
The Secret Side of Italy: 12 Underrated Destinations Locals Don’t Want Tourists to Find
How Much Has the Iran War Cost the Average American Per Day?












