As of April 3, 2026, the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, is approximately 100,000 miles from Earth and approaching the Moon. NASA has released stunning images taken from inside the capsule, including one by mission commander Reed Wiseman, showcasing Earth adorned in cloud formations.
The crew, which includes three American astronauts and one Canadian, is on a ten-day mission to orbit the Moon without landing. They recently ignited the main engine, entering lunar orbit. Mission specialist Christina Koch expressed awe at viewing Earth and the Moon from space, marking her journey as the first woman to fly around the Moon.
The spacecraft’s closest approach to the lunar surface will occur on Day 6 of the mission, approximately 4,000 to 6,000 miles above the Moon. This journey also marks the first crewed travel beyond low-Earth orbit in over 50 years. Following their lunar orbit, the crew is expected to return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 11. Astronaut Victor Glover emphasized the shared human identity seen from space, highlighting the beauty of Earth and the mission’s unifying purpose.
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