NASA Artemis II: New Lunar Images and Mission Updates

NASA has released a collection of images captured by the crew of the Artemis II mission during their first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The mission, which served as a critical step toward long-term lunar habitation and future crewed Mars missions, concluded its 10-day journey on April 10, 2026, with a splashdown off the coast of California.

The crew consisted of four astronauts: NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. During their journey, the crew operated from the Orion spacecraft, which they named Integrity.

Lunar Flyby Observations and Imagery

On April 6, 2026, the astronauts conducted a seven-hour flyby of the far side of the Moon. During this window, they captured several high-resolution images and observations using the Orion spacecraft’s windows.

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One of the most significant images released is of an Earthset, a phenomenon where the Earth appears to sink below the lunar horizon. This image was captured at 6:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 6, 2026. The photograph depicts a partially lit crescent Earth dropping behind the Moon, showing blue water and white clouds over the Oceania region on the sunlit side.

The Earthset image also provides technical detail of the lunar surface, specifically showcasing the Ohm crater, characterized by its flat floor and terraced edges interrupted by central peaks.

In addition to the Earthset, the crew captured an Earthrise at 7:22 p.m. ET on April 6, recreating the iconic perspective first documented by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968. Other imagery from the flyby includes a total solar eclipse, where the Moon fully eclipsed the sun, as well as views of planetary neighbors and long shadows along the lunar terminator line.

Technical Mission Components

The Artemis II mission utilized several core systems to achieve its objectives:

• Space Launch System (SLS): The rocket used to propel the crew and spacecraft from Earth.
• Orion Spacecraft: The crew capsule designed for deep-space exploration and reentry.
• Ground Systems: The support infrastructure required for mission control and recovery.

While the Orion spacecraft provided the necessary capabilities for the lunar flyby and the subsequent return to Earth, We see noted that the capsule does not have the capacity to land on the lunar surface.

Training and Preparation

The transition from training to the actual mission involved years of preparation. NASA documented these challenges in a series titled Moonbound, which detailed the physical and mental requirements for the crew, as well as the teamwork needed to test new systems at the edge of exploration.

Following the splashdown on April 10, 2026, NASA continues to process additional imagery from the mission. The agency has made these resources available through its multimedia galleries, including specific collections for the launch, the journey to the Moon, and the lunar flyby.