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Artemis II Astronauts Capture Earth's Beauty
3 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II astronauts captured stunning images of Earth.
- The crew is halfway to the moon, traveling in the Orion capsule.
- This mission marks the first lunar journey in over 50 years.
The Artemis II astronauts are currently en route to the moon, capturing and downlinking spectacular first images of Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman has shared breathtaking views of our home planet, showcasing its brilliant beauty from the windows of the Orion capsule.
As of midday on April 3, 2026, the crew of four—three Americans and one Canadian—were approximately 90,000 miles from Earth and rapidly approaching their lunar destination. They are scheduled to reach the moon on Monday, April 6, 2026, where they will complete a flyby without landing.
This historic mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is the first crewed journey to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission concluded in 1972. The astronauts successfully fired Orion's main engine on Thursday, April 2, 2026, setting their course for this significant return to lunar exploration.
