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NASA has shared new images of Earth taken from inside the Orion spacecraft, which is currently en route to the Moon as part of the Artemis 2 mission. The crew has reached the halfway mark between Earth and the Moon, just over two days after launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Astronaut Christina Koch mentioned the crew was filled with joy upon hearing this milestone, which occurred approximately 2 days, 5 hours, and 24 minutes after liftoff. She also described the view of the Moon visible from the docking hatch as stunning.
As of early Saturday, NASA’s dashboard indicated the Orion spacecraft was over 142,000 miles from Earth. The agency released a full-color photo showing Earth’s vibrant oceans and clouds, captured during their deep-space journey. After a tense launch and engine burns that set them on a trajectory to circle the Moon, the astronauts are now resting and conducting routine checks and tests.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen expressed awe during a press Q&A, praising the view and describing space as “extraordinary.” This is Hansen’s first spaceflight, and he said he feels like a “kid” floating in zero gravity. He, along with Americans Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, will soon perform a lunar flyby—something not done in over 50 years.
NASA’s Lakiesha Hawkins commended the photos taken by Wiseman, calling them “amazing,” and emphasized the importance of learning about their spacecraft in deep space for the first time. The crew has scheduled activities including CPR demonstrations and medical checks, as well as preparations for scientific observations during their closest approach to the Moon on day six.
All systems are functioning well, with the crew reported to be in high spirits and in contact with their families. The next major milestone occurs overnight Sunday into Monday, when the spacecraft will enter the Moon’s “sphere of influence,” where the Moon’s gravity dominates over Earth’s. If smooth sailing continues, the crew might set a record for the furthest human distance from Earth during the lunar orbit.
Mission commander Reid Wiseman reflected on the enormity of the mission, calling it “nothing normal” and admitting how humbling sending four humans 250,000 miles away truly is. Artemis 2 fits into a broader plan to return permanently to the Moon, ultimately establishing a base for future exploration.
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