Juliet Ezeh
NASA has shared breathtaking high-resolution images of Earth taken by the Artemis II astronauts shortly after the Orion spacecraft began its historic journey to the Moon.
Mission commander Reid Wiseman captured the first photos moments after a critical engine burn placed Orion on its outbound trans-lunar trajectory. The images, collectively titled “Hello, World,” show the Atlantic Ocean in deep blue, a delicate atmospheric glow, and swirling auroras over the poles. From the crew’s vantage point, sections of Africa, Europe, and South America appear inverted against the backdrop of space.
These photographs were taken just after the trans-lunar injection burn, marking Orion’s departure from Earth orbit toward the Moon — the first human mission beyond Earth’s orbit since 1972. The spacecraft will loop around the Moon’s far side, with a planned flyby on April 6 and return to Earth on April 10.
The four-member crew includes Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, who becomes the first Canadian to travel on a lunar mission.
Additional images reveal the Earth’s day-night terminator slicing across the globe, emphasizing humanity’s shared home beneath the astronauts’ distant perspective. One striking photograph even captures the glow of human activity across the planet, highlighting Earth’s interconnected energy network illuminated by sunlight along the lower edge.
NASA’s release of these images not only showcases the beauty of Earth from a lunar-bound spacecraft but also underscores the significance of Artemis II as a milestone in human space exploration.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.