NASA has unveiled several images captured by the Artemis II team as they traveled through space toward the moon. Among these is a refreshed version of the well-known “Blue Marble” photograph taken by the Apollo 17 crew over half a century ago.
“Despite how far we’ve advanced in the last 54 years, one thing hasn’t changed: our planet looks stunning from space,” NASA mentioned in a post, featuring a remarkable snapshot of Earth that parallels the iconic image from 1972.
Astronaut Christina Koch was seen gazing at Earth through the window of the Orion spacecraft, giving an entirely new perspective.
Most of the image showcases vast blue oceans, but hints of land can be spotted on the left side, revealing parts of northern Africa, including the Strait of Gibraltar, along with southern Spain and Portugal.
Another photo highlights astronauts Koch and Reid Wiseman looking back at Earth from their spacecraft’s window.
NASA remarked, “This view is completely different,” as Koch and Wiseman observed our planet moving away into the cosmos on their journey toward the Moon.
In a third image released, Earth is mostly shrouded in darkness, with a brilliant sliver of light illuminating the lower right corner.
“Even in the darkness, we shine,” the agency added.
This particular image captured lightning from human activities, showcasing sunlight at the planet’s edge, as explained in an X post.
Clearly moved by the sight, Wiseman shared the photo on his account, stating, “I’m speechless.”
The Artemis crew, consisting of four members, is set to return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
Camera technology has progressed considerably since the Apollo 17 mission, where astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmidt captured Earth using a 70mm Hasselblad camera back on December 7, 1972.
Interestingly, the Artemis II team utilized an iPhone 17 Pro Max for some of the images collected.
In the upcoming days, this first manned mission to the moon since 1972 will undertake a journey about 250,000 miles away from Earth and then return, completing a unique figure-eight flight pattern.
While the Orion spacecraft itself won’t land on the moon, this mission sets the stage for a human return planned for 2028.
The splashdown of Artemis II is scheduled to occur off the coast of San Diego in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10.
