Inside Artemis 2: Astronaut Life and First Earth Photos from Orion

NASA has released the first downlinked images of Earth captured by the crew of the Artemis II mission. This mission represents the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years and serves as a critical test for the systems required to return humans to the lunar surface.

On April 3, 2026, NASA shared a photograph taken by Mission Commander Reid Wiseman from the window of the Orion spacecraft. The image was captured after the crew completed the translunar injection burn, a maneuver that propels the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon.

The photograph depicts Earth as it eclipses the Sun. The image specifically shows zodiacal light—a faint glow caused by sunlight scattering off interplanetary dust—in the bottom right and two auroras located in the top right and bottom left of the frame.

Mission Crew and Historical Milestones

The Artemis II mission carries four astronauts on a journey that will take them farther from Earth than any humans have previously traveled. The crew includes:

• Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Mission Commander.
• Christina Koch, a NASA astronaut who is the first woman to travel to the vicinity of the Moon.
• Victor Glover, a NASA astronaut who is the first Black man to travel near the Moon.
• Jeremy Hansen, a member of the Canadian Space Agency and the first Canadian to travel near the Moon.

According to reports from USA Today, these crew members are utilizing the Orion crew capsule to orbit tens of thousands of miles above Earth as they prepare for their trajectory toward the lunar vicinity.

Technical Infrastructure and Objectives

The mission is the first crewed test flight of three primary technical components: the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the Exploration Ground Systems required to support the crew.

The total duration of the mission is expected to be approximately 10 days. The primary objective is to validate the performance of the spacecraft and rocket in a crewed environment to set the stage for future landings. NASA intends to use the data and experience gained from Artemis II to facilitate a crewed moon landing as early as 2028.

Beyond the initial flyby, the broader Artemis campaign aims to establish a permanent lunar base. This infrastructure is intended to serve as a foundation for future crewed missions to Mars.

Current Mission Progress

As of April 4, 2026, the Artemis II mission has traveled 219,000 kilometers as it continues its approach to the Moon.

The Orion spacecraft continues to transmit data and visuals back to Earth. NASA provides a 24/7 feed and uses the NASA+ streaming platform, the NASA App, and various social media channels to share updates on the astronauts’ activities and the mission’s technical progress.