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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNasa has released the first photographs from its Artemis II mission, offering a breathtaking view of Earth as the astronauts race toward the moon, marking humanity\u2019s first journey beyond Earth orbit in more than five decades. The images showcase our blue planet\u2019s radiant beauty as the crew approaches their lunar flyby.Downlinked Friday, just 1\u00bd days into the mission, the photos reveal Earth in striking detail from the Orion spacecraft\u2019s windows. They were captured by Nasa astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman after the crew completed the translunar injection burn that set them on course for the moon. <\/p>\n Photo credit: Nasa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n One image shows a curved slice of Earth framed against the blackness of space, with two auroras visible at the top right and bottom left. Another shows the full globe, the deep blue oceans laced with swirling white clouds and a green aurora glowing along the planet\u2019s edge. Zodiacal light, sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust, is also visible as the Earth eclipses the Sun. <\/p>\n Photo credit: Nasa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to think that with the exception of our four friends, all of us are represented in this image,\u201d said Lakiesha Hawkins, an exploration systems leader at Nasa, on the significance of the Earth imagery. She added that the mission continues to proceed smoothly, AP reported. <\/p>\n Photo credit: Nasa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nasa also shared a side-by-side comparison of the 2026 view with a similar image captured by the Apollo 17 team in 1972\u2014the last time humans walked on the Moon. \u201cWe\u2019ve come so far in the last 54 years, but one thing hasn\u2019t changed: our home looks gorgeous from space!\u201d NASA wrote.As of Saturday, the Artemis II mission is about halfway to the Moon. When the astronauts arrive, they will conduct a lunar flyby and collect scientific observations of the Moon\u2019s surface, helping scientists gather valuable data about our nearest celestial neighbor, Nasa said in a post on X.The four-person crew will swing around the moon in their Orion capsule, execute a U\u2011turn and then head back to Earth. This mission will not include a lunar landing, but will test systems critical for future deep\u2011space exploration.Artemis II was launched from Kennedy Space Center\u2019s Launch Complex 39B atop Nasa\u2019s Space Launch System rocket on Wednesday. The mission is a key step in Nasa\u2019s Artemis program, aimed at sustainable lunar exploration and laying groundwork for eventual human missions to Mars.After Mission Control adjusted the Orion\u2019s orientation, the entire Earth, complete with northern lights filling the spacecraft windows, greeted the crew. \u201cIt was the most spectacular moment, and it paused all four of us in our tracks,\u201d Wiseman said in a TV interview.<\/div>\n\n![\"-\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130011963\/.jpg\" "\\"Photo")
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