Looking Back on the Journey to the Moon! Orion spacecraft Mission Sends Back Stunning Images of the Blue Planet | WPN World People News

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission departed Earth orbit on the 2nd (U.S. Eastern Time) and began its journey toward the Moon. At the same time, NASA released initial images of Earth captured by astronauts from inside the Orion spacecraft, with the crew expressing awe at the beauty of the “blue planet.”

According to foreign media reports, after a series of tense, thrilling, and high-risk procedures, the historic Artemis II mission has finally allowed astronauts a brief moment to catch their breath, while continuing to inspect and test onboard systems. As Orion sped toward the Moon, Commander Reid Wiseman turned back to capture a stunning view of Earth.

In a “panoramic image” of Earth released by NASA, the deep blue oceans and swirling cloud formations are clearly visible, with the Sun positioned behind the planet. Auroras can be seen in the upper-right and lower-left corners of the image, while a bright band of zodiacal light appears in the lower-right region.

It is reported that the next major milestone of the Artemis II mission will take place late on the night of the 5th to the early hours of the 6th, when Orion, carrying four astronauts, will enter the Moon’s gravitational field. It will then proceed with a crewed lunar flyby mission. If successful, this mission could set a record as the farthest human spaceflight from Earth in history.