The Best Photos of the Artemis II Mission (So Far)
The Artemis II mission to return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years is underway, and although the crew has yet to enter lunar space, NASA has already provided phenomenal photographs of the mission. Below are some of the most striking images from the crew’s journey to the moon (so far).
The Artemis II crew stands in front of the space launch system ready to propel the Orion spacecraft out of Earth’s atmosphere. From left: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist.
The Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket clears the tower on April 1, 2026. The SLS includes a core stage with a replaceable fuel tank filled with liquid hydrogen and oxygen that powers its four engines. On the sides, it is flanked by two powder thrusters. It is NASA’s most powerful rocket to date.
The two solid rocket boosters shortly after separating from the SLS. Once their job of helping the Orion spacecraft reach escape velocity was complete, they returned to Earth, where they were recovered for reuse.
A three-minute exhibition showing the parabolic trajectory taken by the SLS, as well as the exhaust gases from its engines.
A glimpse of the dimly lit Earth photographed by Mission Commander Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft shows a crescent of light and illuminated cities dotting continents around the world.
The same view as above, photographed with a longer exposure that shows the green light of the Northern Lights crawling across Earth’s magnetic north pole. Looking at the same location in the southern hemisphere, we notice a slight allusion to the Aurora Astralis. Before the launch of Artemis II, a coronal mass ejection from the Sun sent charged particles scattering across Earth’s magnetosphere, producing the auroras.
Another view of our planet from space, among the first taken at this distance by a human being in more than half a century. You can see the dramatic transition between the end of night and the beginning of day. The line that separates the two is known as the “terminator.”
Earth looks through the command module window of the Orion spacecraft. Fifty percent larger than the Apollo command module, this vehicle will be the crew’s home and work area during their 10-day journey until returning to Earth for reuse on future missions.
Tomorrow, when the crew is halfway between Earth and the Moon, it will perform more imaging exercises, returning breathtaking views of both celestial bodies. Stay tuned and follow their progress here.
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Main image: NASA/Reid Wiseman
