
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
5 Movies That Leaving an Imprint with Inventive Innovation - 2
Novo Nordisk gears up for December Ozempic launch in India, sources say - 3
Historic underwater structure discovered by divers off French coast - 4
Analysis-NASA's moon mission tests aerospace old guard as SpaceX, Blue Origin hover - 5
Solar storms can trigger auroras on Earth. This star’s explosion could destroy a planet’s atmosphere
Fears of global aluminum shortages intensify
From Loner to Force to be reckoned with: Individual Accounts of Change
Step by step instructions to Contrast Lab Precious stones and Normal Jewels
Eat Well, Live Well: An Extensive Manual for Smart dieting and Sustenance
Al-Sharaa denies he called for 80% of Syrians to return from Germany
Instructions to Decide the Best SUV Size for Seniors
Change Your Physical make-up: Compelling Activities for Muscle Building
Iran War Derails The Automotive Industry
As nations push for more ambition at climate talks, chairman says they may get it













