
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
Unsold Rams May Be Less expensive Than You Suspect - 2
Support Your Body: A Manual for Smart dieting and Sustenance - 3
NASA releases stunning new images captured by the Artemis II moon mission, including 'Earthset' and a solar eclipse from space - 4
Uncover the Manageable Fish Practices: Sea agreeable Feasting - 5
Astonishing Deserts All over The Planet You Really want To Visit
EU chief urges Iran to free imprisoned protesters, lift internet ban
ONE returns to Red Sea with new service
Watch SpaceX launch powerful ocean-mapping satellite for Europe and NASA early Nov. 17
Figure out How to Pick the Right Dental specialist for Your Dental Inserts
Satellite space quiz: What's orbiting Earth?
Artemis II's moon-bound astronauts capture Earth's brilliant blue beauty as they leave it behind
The World's Dazzling Regular Miracles
New method spots signs of Earth's primordial life in ancient rocks
With Obamacare premium hikes, more people opting for no coverage or cheaper plans













