In a breathtaking scene, NASA revealed the first images of Earth as seen by the Artemis 2 crew from inside the Orion capsule, as they embark on their journey to make history as the first humans to approach the Moon in over 50 years.
A view of Earth from 160,000 kilometers away: Mission commander Reid Wiseman captured a striking image of Earth from the capsule window on Friday, April 3rd, showing the planet surrounded by dense cloud formations, seemingly rising from behind the spacecraft. Other images revealed the planet in its full roundness with its vast oceans, and the lenses even captured the rare green glow of the aurora borealis.
By Friday morning, the crew had traveled 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) from Earth, hurtling toward the Moon, which is at roughly the same distance away. They are expected to reach their destination orbit on Monday.
“Nothing compares to this moment.” In a video call with ABC News, mission specialist Christina Koch, the first woman to travel around the Moon, expressed her awe, saying, “I knew what we were going to see, but nothing prepares you for this breathtaking view of our home planet shining like daylight, and the moon glowing on it at night. I’m so excited about what lies ahead.”
Meanwhile, Victor Glover, the first Black astronaut to travel to deep space, delivered an inspiring message from the heart of Orion’s orbit: “Trust us, you look amazing. From here, we all look the same; we are the human race, regardless of our origins or appearances. We are one people.”
The 10-Day Journey: What’s Next?
The mission will last 10 days, with a crew of three Americans and one Canadian. Here are the key milestones of the upcoming journey:
Day 6: The spacecraft will make its closest approach to the lunar surface, coming within 6,450 to 9,650 kilometers.
Return: The spacecraft will use the Moon’s gravity to propel it back onto its trajectory back to Earth.
Landing: The capsule is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 11.
This mission is a “quantum leap” that paves the way for future human landings on the Moon and proves once again that humanity can achieve the impossible when it works together.
