NASA’s Artemis II mission crew sent back to Earth the first official photos from their lunar flyby, captured during the historic test flight
These images reveal regions no human had ever seen before, including a rare solar eclipse that occurred in space.
The photographs were taken on April 6, 2026, during the seven hours the Orion spacecraft spent past the far side of the Moon.
Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen used multiple cameras to capture thousands of images.
NASA has already released several of them, and more are expected in the coming days, as the crew continues their journey home, having already traveled more than halfway.
The photos show impact craters, ancient lava flows, and fractures on the lunar surface-details that will help scientists better understand the geological evolution of the Moon.
The team also observed differences in color, brightness, and texture in the terrain, recorded Earth’s rising and setting on the lunar horizon, captured stunning views of the solar eclipse with the Sun’s corona visible, and reported six flashes of meteoroids hitting the dark surface of the Moon.
One of the most striking images shows the Moon backlit by the Sun during the eclipse, with Orion appearing in the foreground.
Another impressive image captures the crescent-shaped Earth setting on the Moon’s limb, with Australia and Oceania illuminated by daylight.
“The four Artemis II astronauts-Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy-took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so beautiful and full of science that they will inspire future generations,” said Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
Scientists have already begun analyzing the images, audio, and data sent back.
This information will refine our understanding of lunar geology and help plan future exploration missions, paving the way for a lasting presence on the Moon and, eventually, for the first manned missions to Mars.
The Artemis II mission represents an important step in the Artemis program, which seeks to expand human space exploration, bringing scientific and economic benefits to humanity.
The spacecraft’s reentry into the atmosphere and landing in the ocean are scheduled for April 10th.
Published in 04/08/2026 08h33
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.
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