- Home>
- Gallery»
- Artemis II Mission in Pictures: Astronauts Capture Stunning Photos of Earth, Moon & Orion Spacecraft During Historic Mission
Artemis II Mission in Pictures: Astronauts Capture Stunning Photos of Earth, Moon & Orion Spacecraft During Historic Mission
NASA’s Artemis II mission is making history as the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than five decades. The astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have been sharing breathtaking images of Earth, the Moon, and deep space as they travel hundreds of thousands of miles away from our planet. These photos capture key moments of the mission— from the first views of Earth fading into the distance to dramatic images of the Moon during the historic lunar flyby.
Below are stunning pictures highlighting key visuals captured during the mission.
1. Christina Koch Looks Back at Earth from Orion
NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch looks out from one of Orion’s main cabin windows as the spacecraft heads toward the Moon. From deep space, Earth appears as a small glowing blue sphere, offering a rare perspective of our planet during humanity’s first crewed lunar mission in decades. (Image: Reuters)
Reid Wiseman Captures Earth After Translunar Injection
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman photographed Earth through Orion’s window after the spacecraft completed its translunar injection burn on April 2. The image shows Earth partially illuminated with visible auroras near the poles and faint zodiacal light in the background as Orion continues its journey toward the Moon. (Image: Reuters)
Artemis II Crew Speaks to Reporters from Space
Artemis II astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover speak with reporters during the mission’s first live downlink event. The historic interaction allowed the crew to share their experiences from deep space while traveling toward the Moon aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft. (Image: Reuters)
Reid Wiseman Observes Earth from Deep Space
Commander Reid Wiseman peers through Orion’s cabin window while watching Earth recede in the distance. The view highlights the vastness of space and the growing distance between the spacecraft and our planet as the Artemis II crew travels farther from Earth on their journey to the Moon. (Image: Reuters)
Moon Seen Through Orion Window on Day Five
A crew member aboard Orion captured this view of the Moon through the spacecraft window on April 6, the fifth day of the Artemis II mission. The photograph reveals the rugged lunar surface, including craters and shadowed terrain, as the spacecraft approaches its historic flyby of the Moon. (Image: Reuters)
Christina Koch Prepares for Lunar Flyby
NASA astronaut Christina Koch prepares for the upcoming lunar flyby inside the Orion spacecraft. The crew carefully monitors systems and procedures during this critical phase of the Artemis II mission, as Orion approaches the Moon before using its gravity to begin the return journey to Earth. (Image: Reuters)
Earth Viewed from Orion Window After Engine Burn
Another image of Earth was captured by Commander Reid Wiseman from one of Orion’s four windows following the spacecraft’s translunar injection burn. The photograph shows Earth glowing against the darkness of space as Orion continues moving farther away from the planet toward the Moon. (Image: Reuters)
Moon Photographed on Third Day of Artemis II Mission
This photograph of the Moon was taken by an Artemis II astronaut through Orion’s window on the third day of the mission. As the spacecraft moved closer to lunar orbit, astronauts gained increasingly detailed views of the Moon’s cratered surface and dramatic contrasts between light and shadow. (Image: Reuters)
