NASA has released the first high-resolution images of Earth from the Orion spacecraft as the Artemis II crew travels 320,000 kilometers to the Moon, planning to orbit around the Moon's far side before returning to Earth.
On 3 April 2026 GMT+7, NASA unveiled high-resolution Earth photos taken by the Artemis II crew during their journey to the Moon. These are the first images from this mission, captured by Commander Reid Wiseman after the Orion spacecraft successfully performed its final engine burn to enter lunar orbit.
One key image titled “Hello, World” shows the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, with Earth's thin atmosphere and aurora near the poles visible as the planet blocks sunlight. In this photo, Earth appears inverted, revealing the western Sahara Desert and the Iberian Peninsula on the left, South America's eastern coast on the right, and the bright planet Venus shining at the bottom.
The Artemis II mission marks the first human journey beyond Earth's orbit since 1972, after the Apollo era. The spacecraft departed Earth orbit following its engine burn and is traveling over 320,000 kilometers to the Moon. The crew plans to orbit the Moon's far side before returning. They are scheduled to pass the far side on 6 April and return to Earth on 10 April.
Source: BBC