Artemis II crew captures stunning Earthset as humanity returns to lunar orbit

Washington: On April 6, the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission achieved a historic milestone as their spacecraft swung around the moon, capturing a breathtaking earthset photo with Earth rising above the lunar limb.

The image marks humanity’s first crewed journey to lunar orbit since Apollo, and the first time a new generation of astronauts has witnessed Earth from deep space with their own eyes.

Artemis II is the first crewed flight of NASA’s program to establish long-term exploration at the Moon. The four-person crew tested the Orion spacecraft’s life-support, navigation, and communication systems during the 10-day mission, paving the way for a future lunar landing with Artemis III.

The earthset photo echoes the iconic earthrise image captured by Apollo 8 in 1968. Like that image, this new view of our home planet highlights Earth’s beauty and fragility against the stark lunar horizon.“This is why we explore,” said a NASA flight director after the crew’s return. “To see ourselves from a new perspective, and to take the next step together.”

Artemis II’s success brings the world one step closer to a sustained human presence on the Moon and future missions to Mars.