Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 4: Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II have shared stunning images of Earth as they journey toward the Moon, marking a major milestone in human space exploration.

The photographs, taken from the Orion capsule, include a striking view captured by mission commander Reid Wiseman, showing a curved portion of Earth framed through the spacecraft’s window. Another image presents the full globe, with vast oceans, swirling white clouds, and a vivid green aurora glowing across the planet.

NASA highlighted that varying camera settings were used to produce the visuals—one with a longer exposure to capture more light from Earth, and another with a shorter exposure to emphasise the planet’s nighttime illumination. A separate image also showcased the dramatic boundary between day and night, known as the “terminator.”

Sharing the images, NASA noted, “Whether awake or dreaming, we’re all here on this planet together,” reflecting on the unity of humanity as seen from space.

The mission marks the first time astronauts have travelled toward the Moon in over 50 years, since Apollo 17. The Artemis II crew—comprising three Americans and one Canadian—has already travelled over 1,80,000 kilometres from Earth and is expected to cover another 2,40,000 kilometres to reach near-lunar orbit.

Instead of landing, the astronauts will perform a flyby of the Moon, execute a U-turn, and return directly to Earth. The mission represents a crucial step in NASA’s broader plans to re-establish a sustained human presence on the Moon.