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At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Artemis II astronauts have shared stunning views of Earth as they journey closer to their lunar goal.
NASA unveiled the first set of images from the crew on Friday, marking 36 hours into the most significant crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era.
In a photograph captured by mission commander Reid Wiseman, Earth’s curvature is elegantly framed within one of the capsule’s windows. Another image offers a full view of the planet, where the vast oceans are adorned with wispy white cloud formations, and a luminescent green aurora graces the scene, as noted by NASA.
“It’s incredible to consider that aside from our four intrepid explorers, all of humanity is captured in this photograph,” expressed NASA’s Lakiesha Hawkins, who oversees exploration systems. She confirmed the mission’s progress was on track.
By late Friday, Wiseman and his fellow astronauts had traveled over 110,000 miles (180,000 kilometers) from Earth, swiftly closing the distance to the moon with about 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometers) remaining. Their lunar rendezvous is anticipated for Monday.
The three Americans and one Canadian will swing around the moon in their Orion capsule, hang a U-turn and then head straight back home without stopping. They fired Orion’s main engine Thursday night that set them on their course.
After Mission Control shifted the position of their capsule, the entire Earth complete with northern lights filled their windows.
“It was the most spectacular moment, and it paused all four of us in our tracks,” Wiseman said in a TV interview.
They’re the first lunar travelers since Apollo 17 in 1972.
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