The Artemis II crew provided another reminder of 20th century space endeavors when they captured a breathtaking shot Tuesday of “Earthset,” or the moment when Earth drops below the moon’s horizon.
This photo is a nod to the iconic Earthrise image, taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968.
What’s the latest on the Artemis II mission?
After breaking the record for the longest distance traveled from Earth by humans on Monday, crews were preparing to return to Earth’s gravitational pull.
They are scheduled to fall into the Pacific Ocean near the California coast on Friday.
Artemis II reached a distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth, breaking the 1970 Apollo 13 record by more than 4,000 miles.
On Tuesday, when the moon blocked the sun from their view, all four of them were seen wearing their protective goggles as they watched the total solar eclipse.
The crew consists of American astronauts Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Glover is the first black person, Koch is the first woman and Hansen is the first non-American to fly around the moon.
Their historic mission to orbit Earth’s natural satellite is part of a broader program in preparation for a possible 2026 moon landing.
Victor Glover said, “Humans probably haven’t evolved to see what we see.” “It’s really hard to describe. It’s amazing.”
Edited by: Wesley Rahn