NASA Releases First Artemis II Moon Flyby Photographs

NASA has released the first images captured by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby, marking the first time humans have returned to the vicinity of the Moon. The photographs, released on April 7, 2026, were taken on April 6 during a seven-hour pass over the lunar far side.

The mission serves as a historic test flight, utilizing the Orion spacecraft to transport a crew of four astronauts. The images capture regions of the Moon that have never been seen by humans, providing a significant trove of scientific data for researchers on Earth.

Mission Crew and Operations

The Artemis II crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The crew utilized a fleet of cameras to capture thousands of photographs during their journey.

As of April 7, 2026, the crew members have completed more than half of their journey and are currently heading back toward Earth.

Key Visual Discoveries

Among the most notable images is a rare in-space solar eclipse, showing the Moon backlit by the Sun. In this specific capture, the Orion spacecraft is visible in the foreground on the left, while Earth is seen reflecting sunlight at the left edge of the Moon.

The imagery also provides a wide-field perspective of the solar system. In the solar eclipse photograph, Saturn is visible as a bright spot just below the Moon’s bottom right edge, and Mars is visible as a bright spot at the right edge of the image.

Other significant captures include:

• An Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026.
• Views of the heavily cratered terrain on the eastern edge of the lunar far side.
• Images of the terminator, the boundary between the day and night sides of the Moon.
• A faint view of a crescent Earth appearing above the lunar horizon.

Scientific and Technical Significance

The flyby images are not merely documentary but are described as being brimming with science by NASA officials. The data collected during the seven-hour pass over the lunar far side allows for the observation of lunar geography from a human perspective for the first time in decades.

Our four Artemis II astronauts — Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy — took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come

Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

The release of these images on April 7 was coordinated by NASA and the White House. NASA indicated that additional images are expected to be released in the coming days as the crew continues their return trip to Earth.

The mission’s technical success is highlighted by the ability of the crew to operate complex imaging equipment while navigating the Orion spacecraft through deep space, ensuring that the return to the Moon’s vicinity is supported by high-resolution visual evidence and scientific observation.