Artemis II astronauts capture stunning views of Earth and the moon on historic voyage - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxNVlFBbGVUdVdJb2w4eVFKeWhnNDF2Y0lkMkNrTkVKWTk0S0ZBcGVPbjBISDRuRVJXNHZXVHVTbnlBUEdBWnJtOVpJT0dvSmtwR2pPbHozdk9BODZKeWh5cVh6UDVfbHJmR0ZYYVVqUU45X29OcWxDYU9MQmVtd2lrWTZvVE51bDd1M0RfX2VjdE8xZ3pOUlVuVEFBSGUxQnUtQ21qeUZKdHFreFdEVGtqTXFacUJkRUE?oc=5" target="_blank">Artemis II astronauts capture stunning views of Earth and the moon on historic voyage</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

The Artemis II mission has successfully completed a historic lunar flyby, setting a new distance record by surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 milestone. The NASA crewed mission reached 252,756 miles from Earth—4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13—before making a U-turn behind the moon. During this nearly 10-day test flight, the Artemis II crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, witnessed a rare total solar eclipse from lunar orbit and observed iconic lunar features using high-powered cameras and iPhones. They also captured striking images and relayed detailed observations for scientific research.

NASA’s Artemis 2 mission has reached a thrilling milestone as its crew of four astronauts – Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen – observed the moon up close, marking the first time in over 53 years astronauts have seen the lunar surface from such proximity. On April 4, two days before their scheduled flyby, the team shared vivid descriptions of lunar features including craters like Tycho and Copernicus, and vast basalt plains known as mare. The crew turned off their Orion capsule’s lights to enhance visibility and reported observing the illuminated Orientale Basin and the terminator line separating lunar day from night.

On April 6, 2026, NASA’s Artemis 2 mission will attempt to recreate the iconic 'Earthrise' photo captured by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968. While Apollo 8’s image—showing Earth rising over the moon’s horizon—was spontaneous and taken from just 60 miles above the surface, Artemis 2's planned recreation will occur at altitudes between 4,000 and 6,000 miles without entering lunar orbit. The original Earthrise photo symbolized Earth's fragility and unity during a time of war and environmental concerns. Artemis 2, amid current global tensions, hopes to similarly inspire.

Artemis II has made history by setting a new distance-from-Earth record for human spaceflight, surpassing the previous record of 248,655 miles set by Apollo 13 over 55 years ago. The spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, is currently entering a seven-hour lunar orbit and observation period. This milestone marks a significant achievement in space exploration, as the Artemis II crew ventures further into space than any human has before. The mission also includes opportunities to capture iconic visuals, including a modern rendition of the famous 'Earthrise' photo. The accomplishment has been celebrated with a message from the late Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, who welcomed the Artemis II crew into what he called his 'old neighborhood.'