A full disk image of the Earth as seen from the Orion Capsule. Photo credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman
Astronauts aboard Artemis II have crossed the halfway mark between Earth and the Moon, marking a major milestone in the historic journey as they continue toward a planned lunar flyby.
The NASA crew shared the first images of Earth taken from inside the Orion spacecraft, offering a breathtaking view of the planet from deep space.
Speaking during a live broadcast, astronaut Christina Koch described the moment with excitement, saying, “We can see the Moon out of the docking hatch right now, it is a beautiful sight.”
The remark came around 11 pm (0400 GMT) Friday as the spacecraft steadily advanced toward the Moon, with the crew witnessing both Earth and its natural satellite from a rare vantage point.
The milestone signals steady progress for the Artemis II mission, which aims to test deep-space travel systems and pave the way for future human landings on the lunar surface.
The newly released images highlight not only the vast distance already covered but also the mission’s significance in humanity’s renewed push toward long-duration space exploration.
