Artemis II shares new lunar images while more than halfway to the moon
Impressive new photos taken by the Artemis II astronauts showcase the moon and the interior of the Orion spacecraft, offering a glimpse into their lives in space as they move closer to another historic milestone.
An image highlighting the Moon even captured part of the Orientale basin, which is a first for the human eye, according to NASA. Only robotic imagers have observed this lunar region. The shadowed crater, which is 965 kilometers wide, represents a key transition region between the near and far sides of the Moon.
Images taken from inside the Orion capsule have gone from simply highlighting the light show of Earth seen from a cosmic perspective to refocusing on the Moon as the mission moves closer to the silvery orb.
unknown content item
–
The crew is more than halfway to the Moon, according to NASA, and its highly anticipated lunar flyby will take place on Monday.
The astronauts said the moon continues to appear larger through Orion’s windows as their journey continues.
A camera on the wings of Orion’s solar array shows the moon in the distance on the second day of the mission. -NASA
The Artemis II images of Earth were equally stunning, showing perspectives of our planet that have not been seen by the human eye since the last time astronauts left Earth’s orbit during the Apollo era.
The Earth appears as a crescent on the third day of the mission. -NASA
The crew also appeared live on camera throughout NASA’s ongoing broadcast of the mission, allowing a candid glimpse into their lives in space.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch returns to Earth. -NASA
In this new photo lit by greenery, the majority of the Orion spacecraft’s lights are turned off to avoid glare on the windows, allowing Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen to look out and enjoy the view.
Koch reads from a tablet while Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen looks out one of Orion’s windows. -NASA
And just like the Artemis I mission in 2022, Artemis II’s journey will include multiple selfie opportunities. The Orion spacecraft’s solar wings are equipped with cameras capable of capturing high-resolution selfies, including those with the Moon or Earth.
This image was taken during a routine external inspection of Orion using its cameras on the second day, while providing a unique perspective of the capsule in the space environment.
Orion took a selfie on the second day of the mission. -NASA
NASA’s Artemis program is sending humans into deep space for the first time in more than five decades. Sign up for the Countdown newsletter and receive updates from CNN Science on extraordinary expeditions as they unfold.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com
