Artemis II has just returned breathtaking images of Earth.

As Earth’s 8 billion inhabitants share their well wishes with the cosmos, the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission reflects back with equal hope and inspiration. The mission’s Orion spacecraft recently captured and shared its first image of our planet, revealing a captivating view of a crescent Earth nestled amidst the vastness of space. Today, we’re gifted with even more breathtaking high-quality images.

This black-and-white picture of planet Earth was taken by an optical navigation sensor on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft.
Credit: NASA

The new images from Artemis II, along with initial shots of the spacecraft gracefully traveling through Earth’s orbit, have evoked a sense of wonder, filling social media with heartfelt reactions as the astronauts gaze back at our shared home.

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The Artemis II crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and pilot Victor Glover—includes the first woman and first Black astronaut destined for the moon. This diverse team embodies the spirit of humanity, showcasing our collective ingenuity and courage. As Glover expressed during a broadcast on Flight Day 2, “Trust us: You look amazing, you look beautiful, and from up here, you also look like one thing. We’re all one people.”

The mission to the moon is both historic and awe-inspiring, taking the crew farther than any humans have ventured before. This journey is not just a singular effort but a hopeful step toward returning to the lunar surface, reigniting the spirit of exploration reminiscent of the Apollo era.

Wave hello! Artemis II is watching us.
Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

There we are, the blue marble of Earth. For those who may need a little orientation: the large landmass on the center-left is Africa, while the delicate bands of glowing green light on the top right and bottom left are the aurora borealis, illuminating our skies as Artemis II gracefully moves away.

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Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

A delightful view of Earth through the Orion capsule window was shared by NASA with a cheerful “Good Morning” directed to the mission’s crew and their teams back on Earth. Wishing safety and success to the Orion crew—know that we are all cheering you on.

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If you’re curious about the current location of the Artemis II mission, stay tuned to our live mission tracker for updates.