NASA has shared the first high-resolution images of Earth taken by the Artemis II crew as they pass the halfway point between Earth and the Moon. The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, took the 'spectacular' images, as NASA describes, after the crew completed a final engine burn that set them on a trajectory towards our closest celestial neighbor. At about 07:00 BST, NASA's online dashboard indicated the Orion spacecraft was now 142,000 miles (228,500 km) from Earth and 132,000 miles from the Moon.
Astronaut Christina Koch shared the crew's collective joy upon reaching this milestone, achieved around two days, five hours, and 24 minutes post-launch. The first image, named 'Hello, World,' beautifully captures the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean framed by a soft glow of the atmosphere, showcasing Earth against the backdrop of space with green auroras visible at both poles. The planet appears upside down in this shot, with the western Sahara and the Iberian Peninsula on the left and the eastern portion of South America on the right. NASA identified the bright planet in the corner as Venus.
The crew has been actively sharing their experiences and visual documentation with NASA's mission control. After completing a trans-lunar injection burn, they reported being 'glued to the windows,' capturing breathtaking sights of Earth's dark side illuminated by the Moon's light.
The excitement surrounding this mission marks the first time since 1972 that humans have ventured outside the Earth's orbit. The Artemis II spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following a looping path around the far side of the Moon, and is expected to return to Earth on April 10, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Through this mission, NASA continues to highlight the advancements in space exploration while celebrating the beauty of our planet as seen from afar.
Astronaut Christina Koch shared the crew's collective joy upon reaching this milestone, achieved around two days, five hours, and 24 minutes post-launch. The first image, named 'Hello, World,' beautifully captures the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean framed by a soft glow of the atmosphere, showcasing Earth against the backdrop of space with green auroras visible at both poles. The planet appears upside down in this shot, with the western Sahara and the Iberian Peninsula on the left and the eastern portion of South America on the right. NASA identified the bright planet in the corner as Venus.
The crew has been actively sharing their experiences and visual documentation with NASA's mission control. After completing a trans-lunar injection burn, they reported being 'glued to the windows,' capturing breathtaking sights of Earth's dark side illuminated by the Moon's light.
The excitement surrounding this mission marks the first time since 1972 that humans have ventured outside the Earth's orbit. The Artemis II spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following a looping path around the far side of the Moon, and is expected to return to Earth on April 10, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Through this mission, NASA continues to highlight the advancements in space exploration while celebrating the beauty of our planet as seen from afar.
