ARTEMIS II CREW SHARES FIRST IMAGE OF EARTH FROM ORION SPACECRAFT ON LUNAR MISSION. (PHOTO).

Artemis II crew shares first image of Earth from Orion spacecraft on lunar mission

Following a successful launch from Earth, the Artemis II crew captured and shared the first image of Earth from aboard the Orion spacecraft. NASA released the photo early Thursday, marking the second day of the 10-day lunar mission before the astronauts begin their return trip to Earth.

Artemis II lifted off on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the same site that launched the Apollo missions decades ago. Survivors of the Apollo program watched as the Space Launch System rocket ascended into the evening sky, with a nearly full moon 248,000 miles away serving as the mission’s distant target. Commander Reid Wiseman led the crew with the call, “Let’s go to the moon!” alongside pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen. This mission is NASA’s most diverse lunar crew to date, including the first woman, first person of color, and first non-U.S. citizen in the Orion capsule.

The 32-story rocket launch drew tens of thousands of spectators to Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding roads and beaches, evoking memories of the Apollo moonshots of the 1960s and 1970s. The mission represents a major step toward establishing a sustained U.S. presence on the moon.

Just five minutes after liftoff, Wiseman noted the team’s view: “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re headed right at it,” highlighting the excitement of humanity’s first lunar flight in 53 years.

Orion is expected to reach its farthest point from Earth on flight day six, traveling 4,000 miles beyond the moon, surpassing Apollo 13’s record from 1970 and making the Artemis crew the most distant human travelers in history. After swinging around the far side of the moon using a gravity-assisted trajectory, the crew will return directly to Earth, with a planned splashdown on flight day 10, nine days, one hour, and 46 minutes after liftoff.