
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
6 Natural products High In Vitamins,Which One Do You Like to Eat - 2
Opening Monetary Information: Your Exhaustive Manual for Finding out about Individual budget - 3
10 Natural products to Remember for Your Eating routine for a Better You - 4
Some are walking out. Some are shouting. Some are oblivious. How kids are reacting to THAT 'Wicked: For Good' scene - 5
Track down Your Optimal Conservative Vehicle: Famous Brands to Consider
The Tiny Channel Island With 65 Residents That Chefs And Foodies Go Out Of Their Way To Visit
Parents search for children missing since a volcanic eruption in Colombia 40 years ago
Gym tied to outbreak of obscure disease that spreads through mist
5 Chiefs That Changed Our Opinion on Film
Instructions to Expand Your Smash 1500's Presentation: Tips and Deceives
Rio Tinto resumes operations at three Pilbara port terminals after cyclone Narelle
Holiday spots Well known With Americans In 2024
Genesis Marks 10th Anniversary With Magma GT Concept Aimed at High-Performance Flagships
Hostages as leverage: Iran's secret demand aimed at crippling Israel's agriculture













