Astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission have captured breathtaking images of Earth using an iPhone 17 Pro Max, offering a unique perspective as the Orion spacecraft speeds toward the moon at thousands of miles per hour.
Earth Views from Deep Space
NASA has released spectacular photos showing astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman gazing back at their home planet. These selfies, taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s front camera, highlight the spacecraft’s rapid departure from Earth.
Reid Wiseman, the mission commander, shared an additional image on social media with the caption: “There are no words.” Another post from Wiseman notes: “This view just hits different 🌍 @Astro_Christina and @astro_reid take a moment to look back at Earth as they continue deep into space toward the Moon.”
Mission Milestones Ahead
The crew has also photographed the moon, revealing the Orientale basin in full detail for the first time through human eyes. As Orion approaches the moon, circles it, and returns, the astronauts will travel farther from Earth than any humans before—reaching 252,757 miles (406,773 kilometers).
Equipped with advanced laser communication technology, the spacecraft maintains high-speed links with Earth. Now in its fourth day of a 10-day journey, the mission will culminate in the fastest crewed reentry ever, at approximately 25,000 miles per hour (40,234 kilometers per hour).
More images are expected as the mission progresses, providing further insights into this historic lunar flyby.
