In Pictures | Artemis II's voyage to the moon and back

Photo: AP

NASA's Artemis II ngo sent 4 astronauts -- 3 Americans and 1 Canadian -- connected the archetypal lunar flyby successful much than 50 years. Seen here, astronauts, beforehand enactment from left, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman, 2nd enactment from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada,, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch permission the Operations and Checkout Building for a travel to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff connected NASA's Artemis II satellite rocket astatine the Kennedy Space Center connected April 1, 2026, successful Cape Canaveral, Florida

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The travel of Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Weisman astir the Moon was affluent successful firsts, records and bonzer moments. The archetypal pistillate (Koch), the archetypal idiosyncratic of colour (Glover) and the archetypal non-American (Hansen) were members of the unit connected the historical voyage astir the Moon. Until now, lone achromatic American men had been selected for these missions, which occurred during NASA's Apollo programme of the 1960s and 70s. Seen from left, Mission Spc. Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Mission Spc. Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover airs for a photograph aft the crew's accomplishment astatine the Kennedy Space Center connected March 27, 2026, successful Cape Canaveral, Florida

This NASA handout representation shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commandant (L), Victor Glover, Artemis II aviator (2L), Christina Koch, Artemis II ngo specializer (2R), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II ngo specializer (R), arsenic they halt for a radical photograph during a sojourn to NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, connected March 30, 2026, astatine Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center successful Florida. Photo: AFP PHOTO / NASA / Bill INGALLS

Photo: Reuters

The Artemis II travel was the archetypal crewed ngo of NASA's programme aiming to instal a sustained beingness connected the Moon, including the eventual operation of a base. Seen connected April 1, 2026, NASA's Artemis II ngo to alert by the moon, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion unit capsule, lifts disconnected from the Kennedy Space Center successful Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S.

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From a profusion of rocket-launch ticker parties and peculiar schoolroom lessons connected space, to a ​surge successful planetarium visits and a retail boon successful NASA- and Artemis-themed apparel, signs abound of nationalist fascination with the ⁠four astronauts who flew to the acold broadside of the moon. Spectators look connected from the A. Max Brewer Bridge arsenic NASA's Artemis II satellite rocket lifts disconnected connected April 1, 2026, arsenic seen from Titusville, Florida

Photo: Reuters

The 10-day mission, is simply a cardinal formal rehearsal for a planned effort aboriginal this decennary to onshore astronauts connected the satellite for the archetypal clip since Apollo 17 successful precocious 1972. NASA's Artemis II mission, comprising of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion unit capsule, seen lifting disconnected from the Kennedy Space Center successful Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., connected April 1, 2026.

Unlike the Apollo ​era, erstwhile the United States was racing to onshore astronauts connected the satellite up of the Soviet Union, the Artemis programme is seeking to bushed China. This photograph provided by NASA shows the exterior of the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the Artemis II ngo en way to the satellite connected April 3, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

For galore successful a planetary assemblage captivated by the latest satellite shot, ⁠it reaffirmed the achievements of subject and exertion astatine a clip erstwhile large tech has go wide distrusted, adjacent feared. Opinion polling showed wide ⁠public enactment for the aims of the mission. A presumption of the Moon taken by an Artemis II unit subordinate done the model of the Orion spacecraft connected time 5 of the mission, April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this photograph provided by NASA, an Artemis programme spot floating successful the International Space Station's cupola, connected March 30, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The voyage of 4 astronauts to the acold broadside of the satellite gave ​the satellite a glimpse of America astatine its best, offering a respite from planetary despair and displeasure implicit U.S-led conflict, tariffs, and crumbling planetary institutions. In this representation posted connected April 4, 2026, Artemis II astronauts enactment wrong their spacecraft arsenic they proceed their travel and hole for a lunar flyby astir the acold broadside of the Moon, successful this representation released by NASA. Photo: NASA via PTI Photo

Through ‌a cautiously curated travel of high-quality photos, GoPro videos and different footage from NASA, the 3 American ​and 1 Canadian astronauts provided real-time documentation of NASA's 10-day Artemis II mission. NASA astronaut and Artemis II ngo specializer Christina Koch seen peering retired of 1 of the Orion spacecraft's main compartment windows, looking backmost astatine Earth, arsenic the unit travels towards the Moon April 2, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

NASA Artemis II ngo specializer and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen enjoys a shave wrong the Orion spacecraft during Flight Day 5 and up of the crew's lunar flyby connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The satellite watched, commented and deed the "like" fastener arsenic the astronauts traveled the furthest region ever from Earth successful the Orion spacecraft, a capsule lone ​slightly larger than an SUV. A presumption of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman from 1 of the Orion spacecraft’s model aft completing the translunar injection pain connected April 2, 2026. The representation features 2 auroras (top close and bottommost left) and zodiacal airy (bottom right) is disposable arsenic the Earth eclipses the Sun. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The Artemis II astronauts took a poignant leafage from Apollo 8, proposing profoundly idiosyncratic names for a brace of lunar craters. Commander Reid Wiseman and his unit asked support to sanction 1 small, caller crater aft their capsule called Integrity and different aft his precocious wife, Carroll. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen made the petition close earlier the lunar fly-around. Mr. Wiseman was excessively affectional to talk. Carroll Wiseman, a neonatal nurse, died of crab successful 2020. This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows Artemis II unit members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch embracing aboard the Orion spacecraft aft naming a lunar crater "Carroll" successful grant of Wiseman’s precocious wife, connected April 6, 2026. Photo: Handout / NASA / AFP

This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows a jar of Nutella floating aboard the Orion spacecraft arsenic Artemis II unit members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch enactment connected April 6, 2026. Photo: Handout / NASA / AFP

A presumption of the Moon arsenic the Artemis II mission's Orion spacecraft approaches to scope its furthest region from Earth, successful this screengrab taken from a livestream video connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

Photo: NASA

The Artemis II squad broke the region grounds acceptable by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they surpassed by much than 4,000 miles (more than 6,000 kilometers) erstwhile they reached the journey's furthest region from Earth 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers). The unit of the Artemis II mission's Orion capsule, seen aft the spacecraft had reached its farthest region from the satellite erstwhile it travelled astir the Moon, successful this screengrab taken from a livestream video connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA /Handout via Reuters

In this representation provided by NASA, the Artemis II unit captured this representation of the Vavilov Crater connected the Moon during a lunar flyby, connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

In this representation provided by NASA, the Artemis II unit captured this presumption arsenic the Earth sets down the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. The representation was a deliberate motion to the iconic Earthrise representation taken during the Apollo 8 ngo successful 1968, a changeable that helped seizure the public's imaginativeness arsenic humans traveled astir the Moon for the archetypal time. The modern mentation released by NASA and the White House pairs the delicate, watery satellite Earth with the harsh curve of the Moon, separated by achromatic space. Photo: NASA via AP

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen takes photographs utilizing a camera shroud covering model 2 of the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The unit reported backmost to NASA successful vivid item features of the lunar aboveground and aboriginal witnessed a star eclipse, erstwhile the Moon passed successful beforehand of the Sun. In this representation posted connected April 7, 2026, This representation released by NASA shows a star eclipse arsenic seen from lunar orbit during the Artemis II mission. Photo: NASA via PTI Photo

In this representation provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, counterclockwise from apical left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover airs with eclipse viewers during a lunar flyby, connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The unit besides described flashes of airy -- meteor strikes -- connected the Moon's surface. "Humans astir apt person not evolved to spot what we're seeing," said Victor Glover. "It is genuinely hard to describe. It is amazing." Seen here, a information of the Moon backlit by the Sun during a star eclipse arsenic the satellite Venus shows arsenic a agleam metallic glint astatine left, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon connected April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this representation provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, clockwise from left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, intermission for a radical photograph wrong the Orion spacecraft connected their mode location connected April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

During their historical lunar flyby, astronauts connected NASA's Artemis II ngo witnessed meteorites striking the rugged aboveground of the Moon, a show that has piqued scientists' curiosity. "That was decidedly interaction flashes connected the moon. And Jeremy [Hansen] conscionable saw different one," ngo commandant Reid Wiseman reportedwhile flying astir the Moon. A presumption of Earth, partially hidden down the Moon, captured done the Orion spacecraft model astatine 6:41 p.m. EDT (22:41 GMT) connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, clasp wrong the Orion spacecraft connected their mode location pursuing a flyby of the acold broadside of the Moon connected April 7, 2026. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters

In this representation provided by NASA, the Artemis II unit photographed a faint presumption of a crescent Earth supra the skyline connected the Moon’s acold broadside connected April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

In this representation provided by NASA, Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover is photographed successful the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby connected on April 6, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

The instrumentality to Earth enactment the Orion spacecraft done a captious trial of its vigor shield, which sustained an unexpected level of scorching and accent connected re-entry during its 2022 trial flight. As a ‌result, NASA engineers altered the descent trajectory for Artemis II successful bid to trim vigor buildup and little the hazard of the capsule burning up. In this representation from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II Orion capsule, right, separates from the work module supra the Earth successful mentation for splash down successful the Pacific Ocean, connected April 10, 2026. Photo: NASA via AP

Later connected April 10, 2026, the Artemis II capsule ​and its four-member unit streaked done Earth's ambiance and safely splashed down successful the Pacific Ocean. NASA's gumdrop-shaped Orion ​capsule, dubbed Integrity, parachuted mildly into the oversea disconnected the Southern California seashore soon aft 5 p.m. PT, concluding ⁠a ngo that took the astronauts deeper into abstraction than anyone had flown before. Photo: NASA/Handout via Reuters