By Ashley Strickland, CNN
The first Artemis II image of the Moon includes a portion of the Orientale basin (far left).
Photo: CNN / NASA
Awe-inspiring new photos captured by the Artemis II astronauts showcase the Moon and the interior of the Orion spacecraft, offering a glimpse into their lives in space as they close in on another historic milestone.
One image highlighting the Moon even captured a portion of the Orientale basin, which marks a first for human eyes, according to NASA. Only robotic imagers have witnessed this lunar region. The shadowed crater, which is 965km wide, represents a key transition region between the near and far sides of the Moon.
Images taken from inside the Orion capsule have shifted from solely highlighting the glowing spectacle of Earth as seen from a cosmic perspective to refocusing on the Moon as the mission draws closer to the silvery orb.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch looks at Earth from one of the Orion spacecraft’s windows.
Photo: CNN / NASA
The crew is more than halfway to the Moon, according to NASA, and their highly anticipated lunar flyby will occur on US Monday.
The astronauts said the Moon continues to appear larger through Orion’s windows as their journey continues.
A camera on Orion’s solar array wings shows the Moon in the distance on the mission’s second day.
Photo: CNN / NASA
The Artemis II images of Earth have been equally stunning, showcasing perspectives of our planet that haven’t been seen by human eyes since astronauts last left Earth orbit during the Apollo era.
Earth appears as a crescent on the third day of the mission.
Photo: CNN / NASA
The crew has also appeared live on camera throughout NASA’s continuing broadcast of the mission, allowing candid glimpses of their life in space.
In this new verdantly illuminated photo, the majority of the Orion spacecraft’s lights are turned off to avoid glare on the windows, allowing Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen to look outside and enjoy the view.
Koch reads on a tablet while Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen peers out of one of Orion’s windows.
Photo: CNN / NASA
And much like during the Artemis I mission in 2022, Artemis II’s journey will include multiple selfie opportunities. The Orion spacecraft’s solar array wings are equipped with cameras that can capture high-resolution selfies, including ones with the Moon or Earth.
This image was taken during a routine external inspection of Orion using its cameras on the second day – while also providing a unique perspective of the capsule in the space environment.
Orion took a selfie on the second day of the mission.
Photo: CNN / NASA
NASA’s Artemis program is sending humans into deep space for the first time in more than five decades.
– CNN