Artemis II Astronauts Reach Midway Point to Moon, Share Striking Views of Earth

Astronauts aboard Artemis II have reached the halfway mark between Earth and the Moon, marking a major milestone in humanity’s return to deep space exploration.

The four-member crew, traveling aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, hit the midpoint roughly two days, five hours and 24 minutes after launching from Kennedy Space Center.

As they continue their journey toward a historic lunar flyby, the astronauts also captured and shared breathtaking images of Earth from space. The photos reveal a vivid blue planet framed by swirling clouds, with rare atmospheric phenomena visible from orbit.

Astronaut Christina Koch described a collective “expression of joy” among the crew upon learning they had reached the milestone. Speaking during a live broadcast, she added that the Moon was already visible through the spacecraft’s window.

“We can see the Moon out of the docking hatch right now—it is a beautiful sight,” she said.

According to NASA data, the spacecraft has now traveled more than 229,000 kilometres from Earth, steadily approaching its closest pass around the Moon.

Mission commander Reid Wiseman also captured a striking image showing Earth illuminated against the darkness of space, with auroras and faint zodiacal light visible as the planet partially eclipsed the Sun.

After the intense early phase of launch and propulsion burns that set them on course, the crew has begun settling into life aboard the spacecraft. Alongside routine system checks, the astronauts are experiencing the novelty of microgravity and taking in the extraordinary views.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on his first mission to space, described the experience as both surreal and exhilarating.

“The views are extraordinary,” he said, adding that floating in zero gravity made him feel “like a little kid.”

The mission marks the first time in more than 50 years that humans are traveling toward the Moon, a significant step in NASA’s broader effort to return astronauts to the lunar surface in the coming years.