
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
Warming winters lead to more nitrate pollution in the drinking water near farms - 2
Don't miss the waxing moon swing by the Beehive star cluster March 27 - 3
New heart disease calculator predicts 30-year risk for young adults - 4
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises? - 5
Oil, energy and food: Which countries in Europe are most exposed to higher food prices?
Mobility exercises are an important part of fitness as we age. Here are some tips
Nordic people know how to beat the winter blues. Here's how to find light in the darkest months
UN mission says no evidence Hezbollah rearming in southern Lebanon
The most effective method to Quick Track Your Outcome in Advanced Showcasing with a Web-based Degree
'A completely new manufacturing frontier': Space Forge fires up 1st commercial semiconductor factory in space
Get To Be familiar with The Historical backdrop Of Western Medication
Director of Swiss hospital describes the rush to treat the injured from Alpine resort bar fire
Involved Vehicles for Seniors: Track down the Best Picks for Solace and Dependability
Germany's Lufthansa enters race for stake in Portuguese airline TAP













