From one of the windows of the Orion spacecraft, the crew of the Artemis II mission shared the first photographs, in which two northern lights and part of the Earth’s globe can be seen.
The images emerge after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) carried out the first manned launch on April 1, after 50 years, which marked a historic moment for the United States.
This launch, which aims for a ten-day trip, is part of NASA’s plan to return to the Moon. On their third day of exploration, the astronauts shared various photographs captured from the spacecraft.
According to NASA, Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman took the first images of Earth from one of Orion’s windows. The agency reported that this occurred after completing the translunar injection maneuver.
“Two northern lights (top right and bottom left) and the zodiacal light (bottom right) can be seen during Earth’s solar eclipse,” NASA highlights.
More images were shared by the space agency through social networks, along with the message: “suddenly, we are up there with them”, in addition to a video from the Orion ship.
“Suddenly, we’re up there with them.”
We’re sharing the Artemis II crew’s first images from space—keep following our 24/7 live feed for the latest mission updates: https://t.co/BezILihoZc pic.twitter.com/OwgYsWnngp
— NASA (@NASA) April 3, 2026
In one of the image threads, NASA highlights that the photographs show how the Earth’s electric lights generated by human activity are reflected, while, in the lower right, sunlight illuminates the edge of the planet.
Likewise, NASA showed the crew inside the spacecraft, as well as images showing the dividing line between day and night that crosses the Earth.
Photograph of the dividing line between day and night, known as the terminator, that runs through the Earth. (Free Press Photo: Courtesy NASA)
Astronauts will modify the speed of Orion and adjust the trajectory
NASA highlighted that, after completing the translunar injection maneuver on April 2, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, became the first people to leave Earth orbit since the Apollo program in 1972.
This Friday, the crew is expected to prepare for their first trajectory correction maneuver, with which Orion’s speed will be modified and its route adjusted to ensure that the ship reaches the exact point that allows exploration and data collection for the next phases of the missions.
A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from one of the four main windows of the Orion spacecraft. (Free Press Photo: Courtesy NASA)
Where to continue the exploration of the Artemis II mission?
As part of the Artemis exploration project, NASA announced that it will continuously broadcast the crew’s journey aboard the Orion spacecraft through its official YouTube channel.