The Digester
science

NASA releases 'Earthset' photo from Artemis II lunar flyby

NASA released an 'Earthset' image taken by the Artemis II crew on April 6, 2026, as the mission completed a record-setting lunar flyby and began its return to Earth.

Apr 7th 2026 · United States

Insights

  • The image echoes Apollo 8's 1968 Earthrise and was taken about six minutes before Earth passed behind the Moon.
  • Artemis II reached 252,756 miles from Earth, setting a new human spaceflight distance record.
  • Crew members are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
  • The mission made lunar observations including previously little-known craters, a solar eclipse and meteor strikes.

Sources