
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
The Significance of a Land Lawyer for Your Business - 2
'No Kings' protests recap: More than 8 million turned out across all 50 states, organizers say - 3
Dinosaur collagen used to create one-of-a-kind handbag - 4
Which Diet Prompts the Incomparable Wellbeing Results? - 5
Find the Native Culinary Customs: Local Flavors
Intriguing Social Unesco World Legacy Locales All over The Planet
Climate leaders are talking about 'overshoot' into warming danger zone. Here's what it means
Step by step instructions to Lessen Your Gamble of Creating Cellular breakdown in the lungs
Iran warns its ready to open new front in Yemen, close Bab al-Mandab Strait with Houthis
Remain Fit and Sound with These Exercise Fundamentals
Sea Ice Hits New Low in Hottest Year on Record for the Arctic
Before Cheap Cars Were Common, This Fiat Changed Everyday Life for Millions
Surge of off‑lease electric vehicles expected to drive down used EV prices
Decrease in Home Buy Credits and Home loan Renegotiating Rates: An Outline of Latest things













