NASA Releases First Images of Earth from Artemis II Lunar Mission

NASA Releases First Images from Artemis II Orion Spacecraft

As of midmorning on Friday, the crew of four astronauts is approximately 100,000 miles away from Earth and closing in on the moon. The spacecraft, Orion, has released its first images taken from inside the capsule, showing views of the planet and the moon.

Mission commander Reid Wiseman captured a photograph of Earth through the capsule’s window, which shows the planet veiled in cloud formations rising beyond the spacecraft as it continues its journey. Another image shows the entire globe with oceans visible, accompanied by a green aurora glow.

The crew, consisting of three American astronauts and one Canadian, is currently on a 10-day flight around the moon. They will fly around the lunar surface before looping back towards Earth without landing. The spacecraft was set on its course after firing Orion’s main engine on Thursday night.

According to mission specialist Christina Koch, who has been part of previous space missions, “there’s nothing that prepares you for the breathtaking aspect of seeing your home planet both lit up bright as day and also the moon glow on it at night with a beautiful beam of the sunset.”

The crew is currently rehearsing scientific observations they plan to carry out during their lunar flyby. The mission is scheduled to reach its closest approach to the moon, approximately 4,000-6,000 miles above the lunar surface, on the sixth day of the mission.

After completing their lunar flyby, the spacecraft will use its gravity to return to Earth, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 11.

Source: Al Jazeera