The Apollo Legacy
Humans first reached the Moon in July 1969 with Apollo 11. The crew — Neil Alden Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. — made history when Armstrong became the first human to step on the Moon while Collins orbited above. Apollo 11 paved the way for all future lunar exploration, marking a milestone in human space travel.
Artemis II Mission Overview
NASA’s Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby mission aboard the Orion spacecraft. The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover Jr., and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. The mission’s main goal is to test Orion’s deep-space systems with humans on board before future Moon landings.
Learn more about Artemis II at NASA
First Photos from Artemis II
The crew sent down the first images from Orion. Commander Reid Wiseman captured a breathtaking view of Earth showing two auroras, zodiacal light, and Earth eclipsing the Sun. These are the first downlinked images from humans this far from Earth in decades, giving a unique perspective on our planet from deep space.
You can also link here to the official NASA image article: Hello World: Artemis II First Images
More New Earth Images Dropped!
The Artemis II crew has shared even more stunning views of Earth:
- In one image, the terminator — the divide between night and day — cuts across the planet, showing all of us together, whether awake or asleep.
- In another shot, the electric lights of human activity are visible from space, while sunlight illuminates the limb of Earth in the lower right.
- These photos were taken after the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026, as the crew began their lunar flyby mission.
These images not only offer breathtaking views but also highlight the delicate balance and beauty of our planet from space. Seeing Earth’s night lights alongside the sunlight on the limb reminds us of the global perspective astronauts gain, and why missions like Artemis II are crucial for testing human spaceflight capabilities and preparing for future exploration beyond the Moon.
Why This Matters
From Apollo 11 to Artemis II, humans are returning to lunar space with far more advanced technology. Artemis II is a crucial step toward NASA’s plans for future Moon landings and eventually sending humans to Mars. It also shows how far space exploration has come, connecting the bold first steps of Armstrong to today’s missions.
From Apollo 11 to Artemis II, humans have always pushed the limits of exploration. These missions show how far we’ve come — and make you wonder what future generations will remember about our time in space.
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