Artemis II's First Photos: Earth, Eclipsed, from a Moonbound Craft

NASA has released the first images taken by the crew of the Artemis II mission. The photos show a distant, setting Earth and a solar eclipse from a unique vantage point in deep space. The images were captured by cameras onboard the Orion spacecraft. The four astronauts—the first humans to travel to the Moon in over 50 years—will use these cameras to document their journey. One striking photo shows Earth as a bright crescent against the blackness of space. Another captures a solar eclipse, with the Moon blocking the Sun. This view is only possible from a spacecraft far from Earth. Artemis II is a critical test flight without a lunar landing. The 10-day mission will send the crew around the Moon and back. It paves the way for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface. NASA officials state these photos are an early preview. They promise more "spectacular imagery" as the mission progresses toward its launch, currently scheduled for late 2025.