
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
New funding transforms lives by expanding electricity access across Africa - 2
Figuring out Significant Regulations and Guidelines for Organizations - 3
37 Things Just Individuals Experiencing childhood during the 80s Will Comprehend - 4
Popular Japanese Hotel Chain Now Lets You Show Up With Just Your Passport - 5
Blue Origin safely launches wheelchair user to space and back
Unwinding the Starting points of America: An Excursion Through History
NMG signs new graphite supply deal with Canadian Government
Netanyahu expects Iran's leadership to fall
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro seeks house arrest for prison time citing health issues
The Most Compelling Innovation Developments Somewhat recently
Hidden Island Cameras Capture Rare Tasmanian Species for the First Time Ever
Find the Standards of Powerful Cooperation: Accomplishing Cooperative energy and Coordinated effort
Astronauts' brains change shape and position after time in space, study finds
Gym tied to outbreak of obscure disease that spreads through mist













