Artemis II Crew Sends Jaw-Dropping Earth Photos as They Leave Orbit
Key Takeaways
- Artemis II completed translunar injection, leaving Earth orbit for a lunar flyby.
- Artemis II crew captured the first Earth images from Orion.
- The four astronauts are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
Astronauts Orbit Moon
NASA's Artemis II mission marked humanity's first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years.
The SLS rocket propelled four astronauts on a 10-day flight designed to pave the way for a lunar landing.
The translunar injection burn successfully placed Orion on a free-return trajectory.
The crew set a new human distance record, surpassing Apollo 13.
Astronauts Capture Stunning Earth Views
The crew took the first breathtaking Earth photos from Artemis II.
Wiseman sent an image showing the planet's night side with two auroras and zodiacal light.
NBC News described the photos as revealing our home planet aglow with aurora.
The mission does not include a lunar landing but is a step toward that goal.
Technical Glitches and Human Moments
The crew faced minor technical glitches with email and the toilet fan.
Mission Control resolved the email issue and provided instructions for the toilet fan.
The crew shared human moments like Wiseman's first workout since launch.
Food, Suits, and Global Collaboration
NASA planned a menu of 189 unique, shelf-stable items including 58 tortillas.
The suits were sourced from over 70 American companies, including Connecticut-based Air-Lock.
The mission showcased a global effort with Canada participating through astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
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