On April 1, 2026, the Orion spacecraft carrying the Artemis II crew successfully lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. By April 5, the spacecraft reached the lunar sphere of influence — the boundary where the Moon's gravity exerts more force on Orion than Earth's gravity. And today, on April 6, the astronauts are conducting a historic flyby of the far side of our natural satellite.
A Unique Perspective of Home
Leaving Earth's orbit, the astronauts captured stunning views of our planet. After completing the translunar injection (TLI) burn on April 2, Mission Commander Reid Wiseman took a breathtaking shot of a backlit Earth.
A view of the dark side of Earth taken by Reid Wiseman (April 3, 2026). Credit: NASA
As the spacecraft traveled further, Earth appeared to the crew from new, unusual perspectives. In one photo, the planet is brightly illuminated against the absolute blackness of space, while in another, it turns into a thin glowing arc where sunlight traces the curves of the ocean and clouds, leaving the rest of the planet fading into shadow.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A Look Through the Window
The journey to the Moon is not only a complex technical challenge but also a profound emotional experience. Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Commander Reid Wiseman spend their free moments by the main cabin windows of the Orion spacecraft, gazing back at the rapidly receding Earth.
Christina Koch (left) and Reid Wiseman (right) look back at Earth on their way to the Moon. Credit: NASA
Traditions in Space: Jeremy's Gold Wings
On Flight Day 5, an important milestone took place on board for Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
When astronauts complete their basic candidate training, they receive a silver pin. However, a gold pin ("Gold Wings") is awarded only when they finally make their first flight into space.
His crewmates — NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman — solemnly presented Jeremy with his well-deserved gold pin right in microgravity.
Credit: NASA
The Goal Reached: A View of the Moon
On April 4, the crew captured the nearside of the Moon from an incredibly close distance. The image clearly shows ancient lava flows (the dark areas in the center and right side), which are unique to the nearside of our satellite.
On the left edge of the frame, just beyond the dark patch of the Orientale basin — a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the Moon's near and far sides — a part of the far side is visible. The bright white dot at the bottom with white rays shooting out from it is Tycho crater. By lunar standards, it is quite young: "only" 108 million years old.
Credit: NASA
Ahead lies the far side! The lunar flyby on April 6 marks the climax of the Artemis II mission. The crew is preparing to look upon a region where humanity has not ventured for over 50 years, paving the way for future landings and humanity's return to the lunar surface.
