The Artemis II mission is currently making history. Just yesterday, Monday, April 6, 2026, the crew completed their lunar flyby, reaching a record-breaking distance of 406,773 km (252,756 miles) from Earth—the farthest any human has ever traveled into space.
NASA and the CSA have been releasing a steady stream of breathtaking imagery captured by the crew: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Featured Views from Orion (April 1–7, 2026)
- The Lunar Far Side: Since the crew passed behind the Moon, they captured high-resolution photos of the rugged, crater-heavy far side, which is never visible from Earth. They even spotted four distinct impact flashes on the surface while in the Moon’s shadow.
- “The Near Side” (April 4 & 6): NASA released stunning views of the familiar lunar face (including Mare Imbrium) taken as Orion approached and then swung around the Moon.
- Earthrise & The “Blue Marble”: The crew shared emotional photos of a “sliver of Earth” illuminated against the blackness of space. Jeremy Hansen notably captured a “backlit Earth” shortly after the lunar flyby.
- A Unique Solar Eclipse (April 6): In a first for humanity, the crew witnessed and photographed a total solar eclipse from the far side of the Moon as the Sun dipped behind the lunar disk for 53 minutes.
🚀 Life Onboard “Integrity”
In addition to the celestial views, NASA has shared “selfies” and candid shots of the crew working inside the Orion capsule (which the crew has nicknamed Integrity):
- Christina Koch and Victor Glover were photographed conducting observations of lunar terrain variations from the spacecraft’s viewports.
- Jeremy Hansen was seen in a lighthearted photo “enjoying a shave” on Flight Day 5.
- The crew also shared a photo of their sleeping bags illuminated by the cabin’s display screens.
What’s Next?
The crew is now on the “free-return” leg of their journey, heading back toward home.
- Current Status: Traveling back to Earth (approx. 4-day journey).
- Scheduled Splashdown: Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
You can find the full gallery of these high-res images on the official NASA Artemis II mission gallery or via the Track Artemis app.