NASA’s Artemis II crew has released a breathtaking new series of photographs showing Earth as a luminous blue marble suspended in the darkness of space—captured as the astronauts swing around the Moon on humanity’s first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era.
The four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—shared the images on April 4, 2026, as their Orion spacecraft reached a point more than 180,000 kilometres from Earth, with another 240,000 kilometres still to travel before completing their lunar orbit. The crew is expected to execute their closest approach to the Moon by Monday before beginning the return journey to Earth.
**A New Perspective on Home**
The photographs reveal Earth in striking detail, showing the planet’s atmospheric glow illuminating the planet’s curvature against the absolute black of space. Mountain ranges, cloud systems, and ocean colour gradients visible in the images demonstrate the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft’s external camera systems.
“These images remind us what a special place Earth is and why we need to protect it,” said one of the mission astronauts during a live broadcast from the spacecraft. “But they also show us what’s possible when we work together toward a common goal.”
Artemis II represents the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. Unlike the Apollo programme—which culminated in six successful Moon landings—Artemis II does not involve a lunar landing. Instead, the crew will swing around the Moon in a wide arc, testing spacecraft systems and gathering scientific data before returning home.
**International Collaboration at Its Finest**
The mission marks a significant milestone for international space cooperation. The crew includes NASA astronauts as primary operators alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, representing a new era of partnership in human spaceflight. Canada’s involvement stems from its contribution of advanced robotics technology to the Artemis programme.
The mission also serves as a critical stepping stone for NASA’s broader Artemis architecture, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by the end of the decade. Data gathered during Artemis II will inform the design of future lunar landers, habitats, and surface operations.
**When Will They Return?**
The Artemis II crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 18, 2026, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Upon their return, scientists and engineers will analyse data from the mission’s scientific experiments while NASA begins final preparations for Artemis III—a mission that will actually land astronauts on the lunar surface, including the first woman and first person of colour to walk on the Moon.
The stunning images from Artemis II have already generated enormous public interest, with NASA’s social media channels reporting record engagement numbers. For millions watching worldwide, the photographs offer a powerful reminder of both Earth’s fragility and humanity’s capacity to reach beyond it.
