Astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have released a series of images as preparations intensify for humanity’s first crewed return toward the Moon in decades.
The crew, set to orbit the Moon aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, shared visuals offering a glimpse into their training and the spacecraft systems that will support the landmark mission. The release marks a key milestone as the agency moves closer to its long-awaited deep space mission under the Artemis programme.
“We can see the Moon out of the docking hatch right now. It’s a beautiful sight.”
Flight day 3 is in the books, and our @NASAArtemis II crew is now closer to the Moon than to Earth. Check out highlights from our lunar mission. What’s been your favorite moment so far? pic.twitter.com/mIF343JyX3
— NASA (@NASA) April 4, 2026
NASA highlighted the significance of the images by drawing a comparison with past lunar missions. In a post on X, the agency said, “We’ve come so far in the last 54 years, but one thing hasn’t changed: Our home looks gorgeous from space!” It added that the comparison shows “the left view is from the Apollo 17 crew in 1972 and the right was captured yesterday by the Artemis II crew.”
We’ve come so far in the last 54 years, but one thing hasn’t changed: Our home looks gorgeous from space! The left view is from the Apollo 17 crew in 1972 and the right was captured yesterday by the Artemis II crew.
— NASA (@NASA) April 3, 2026
NASA officials described Artemis II as a critical step toward sustained human presence beyond Earth. One official noted that the mission will “test the systems needed for deep space exploration with crew on board,” laying the groundwork for future lunar landings.
The astronauts also expressed excitement about the journey, highlighting the significance of returning humans to lunar orbit for the first time since the Apollo era. “We’re ready to take humanity forward,” one crew member said, underscoring the mission’s symbolic and scientific importance.
We’re halfway there.
At the time of posting this, 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’s surface. pic.twitter.com/Re8dryeX6k
— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 4, 2026
Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and back, without landing, as NASA validates life-support systems, navigation, and communication capabilities in deep space conditions.
The mission is part of a broader effort to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon and eventually prepare for crewed missions to Mars. NASA has said the Artemis programme aims to include the first woman and first person of colour on a future lunar landing.
With final preparations ongoing, the newly released images are seen as both a technical update and a symbolic reminder of humanity’s renewed ambition to explore beyond Earth orbit.
