NASA releases picture of Earthset shot by Artemis crew
NASA on Tuesday released a historic image of Earth dipping below the lunar horizon, more than 57 years after an iconic "Earthrise" image was captured by an Apollo 8 astronaut.
Members of the Artemis II crew captured the image during the mission's record-setting lunar flyby, while US astronaut Bill Anders took the legendary "Earthrise" during the first space mission to carry humans around the Moon in December 1968.
EARTHSET.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026
April 6, 2026.
Humanity, from the other side. First photo from the far side of the Moon. Captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon. Photo: NASA pic.twitter.com/ZEBTQA85TY
The astronauts wrapped up their lunar flyby as they continue their journey back to Earth on Tuesday, bringing with them rich celestial observations, including little-known lunar craters, a solar eclipse and meteor strikes that scientists hope will open doors.
Their eyes glued to the spacecraft windows for nearly seven hours, the team of four who spent their day breaking records and making history were treated to a view of the Moon unlike any other.
"Humans probably have not evolved to see what we're seeing," said Victor Glover. "It is truly hard to describe. It is amazing."
The crew reported in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun.
They also described flashes of light -- meteor strikes -- on the Moon's surface.
"I can't say enough how much science we've already learned," Kelsey Young, lead scientist for the Artemis II mission, told the astronauts.
"You really brought the Moon closer for us today, and we cannot say thank you enough."
- Trump praises 'modern-day pioneers' -
But even after becoming the furthest humans ever to travel from Earth, their day was not over: the bleary-eyed astronauts remained in good spirits as they took a late-night call from US President Donald Trump.
Unlike the Artemis astronauts and NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, Trump at age 79 is old enough to remember the Apollo program.
"You've really inspired the entire world," Trump said, calling them "modern-day pioneers" who have "a lot of courage doing what you're doing."
"America will be second to none in space and everything we're doing, and we will continue to lead the whole thing into the stars, this incredible journey into the stars."
He probed the astronauts about their favourite moments and asked what it was like to lose connection with Earth for some 40 minutes during an expected communications blackout, and even experienced his own signal glitch while calling into space.
"Might have gotten cut off," Trump said as he waited a full minute for the signal to return. "It is a long distance."
- Historic trip -
The journey wrapped up late Monday and had plenty of milestones, including when the Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they surpassed by more than 4,000 miles (more than 6,000 kilometres) when they reached the journey's furthest distance from Earth, 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometres).
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the moment should "challenge this generation and the next, to make sure this record is not long-lived."
And as noted by Trump, the crew lost contact with planet Earth for about 40 minutes as their spacecraft passed behind Earth's satellite.
The blackout period was expected but still notable: they were the first people in more than 50 years to lose contact with the rest of humanity.
"It is so great to hear from Earth again," said astronaut Christina Koch, as the crew regained connection with their home planet.
"We will always choose Earth."
