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The 10 greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission

  • <p> The first mission of NASA's ambitious Artemis program produced some beautiful images. </p> <p> When the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was rolled out to the pad at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Artemis 1 mission wowed the world with striking images. </p> <p> From the bright-as-day nighttime launch of SLS to the close-up shots of the moon's crater-pocked surface taken by the Orion spacecraft, the photos of Artemis 1 made the moon mission truly come to life. Join us as we look back through the mission with 10 of the greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 mission.  </p> <p> <em>By Brett Tingley </em> </p>
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    NASA's Artemis 1 mission was a photogenic one.

    The first mission of NASA's ambitious Artemis program produced some beautiful images.

    When the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was rolled out to the pad at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Artemis 1 mission wowed the world with striking images.

    From the bright-as-day nighttime launch of SLS to the close-up shots of the moon's crater-pocked surface taken by the Orion spacecraft, the photos of Artemis 1 made the moon mission truly come to life. Join us as we look back through the mission with 10 of the greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 mission. 

    By Brett Tingley 

    NASA/Joel Kowsky
  • <p> Some nine days before liftoff, NASA's Space Launch System rocket stood in the orange glow of a Florida sunset at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. </p>
    2/11

    1. SLS waits on the launch pad

    Some nine days before liftoff, NASA's Space Launch System rocket stood in the orange glow of a Florida sunset at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

    NASA/Joel Kowsky
  • <p> Seconds after ignition, SLS begins its journey to the moon on Nov. 16, 2022 as it lit up the night sky with its solid rocket boosters. The ignition of the Space Launch System rocket was so powerful that it damaged its mobile launch platform. </p>
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    2. SLS lifts off

    Seconds after ignition, SLS begins its journey to the moon on Nov. 16, 2022 as it lit up the night sky with its solid rocket boosters. The ignition of the Space Launch System rocket was so powerful that it damaged its mobile launch platform.

    NASA/Joel Kowsky
  • <p> Roughly a minute after liftoff, SLS' fiery rocket boosters light up the massive smoke plume left in its wake as the moon can be seen in the distance. At launch, SLS was the most powerful rocket ever to take to the skies successfully, producing 8.8 million pounds (3.9 million kg) of thrust. </p>
    4/11

    3. SLS joins the moon in the night sky

    Roughly a minute after liftoff, SLS' fiery rocket boosters light up the massive smoke plume left in its wake as the moon can be seen in the distance. At launch, SLS was the most powerful rocket ever to take to the skies successfully, producing 8.8 million pounds (3.9 million kg) of thrust.

    NASA/Keegan Barber
  • <p> On Nov. 16, 2022, the first day of its mission, the Orion spacecraft captured this view of Earth as seen from deep space. The image was taken by a camera on the tip of one of Orion's solar arrays while the spacecraft was 57,000 miles (91,732 kilometers) from Earth on the way to the moon. </p>
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    4. Orion's first picture of Earth

    On Nov. 16, 2022, the first day of its mission, the Orion spacecraft captured this view of Earth as seen from deep space. The image was taken by a camera on the tip of one of Orion's solar arrays while the spacecraft was 57,000 miles (91,732 kilometers) from Earth on the way to the moon.

    NASA
  • <p> On the 13th day of its mission, Orion reached its maximum distance from Earth at 268,563 miles (432,210 kilometers) away. Orion traveled farther from our planet than any other spacecraft built for humans, breaking the record set by Apollo 13. </p>
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    5. Orion breaks distance record

    On the 13th day of its mission, Orion reached its maximum distance from Earth at 268,563 miles (432,210 kilometers) away. Orion traveled farther from our planet than any other spacecraft built for humans, breaking the record set by Apollo 13.

    NASA
  • <p> On Dec. 5, the 20th day of NASA's Artemis 1 mission, Orion captured this close-up of the lunar surface.  </p>
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    6. Lunar close-up on Flight Day 20

    On Dec. 5, the 20th day of NASA's Artemis 1 mission, Orion captured this close-up of the lunar surface. 

    NASA
  • <p> On Day 21 of its mission, Dec. 5, Orion looked back at the moon following a powered flyby to set the spacecraft on a journey back towards home. </p> <p> Throughout the mission, Orion used its optical navigation camera to look at Earth and the moon at different phases and distances. These images will help NASA analyze the effectiveness of Orion's optical navigation system under different lighting conditions in order to inform the system's use in future missions. </p>
    8/11

    7. Orion looks back at the moon

    On Day 21 of its mission, Dec. 5, Orion looked back at the moon following a powered flyby to set the spacecraft on a journey back towards home.

    Throughout the mission, Orion used its optical navigation camera to look at Earth and the moon at different phases and distances. These images will help NASA analyze the effectiveness of Orion's optical navigation system under different lighting conditions in order to inform the system's use in future missions.

    NASA
  • <p> NASA's zero gravity indicator, a plush Snoopy clad in an orange spacesuit, can be seen floating around the inside of the Orion capsule as the interior of the craft flashes with different colored lights.<br> <br> Commander Moonikin Campos, a mannequin equipped with sensors to collect data about the radiation environment in deep space, can be seen in the capsule. Campos will inform future Artemis missions on how to best protect human crews from this radiation.  </p> <p> At center is the Callisto payload, a technology demonstrator built by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with Amazon to test voice-activated digital assistant technology aboard Orion. </p>
    9/11

    8. Snoopy floats inside Orion

    NASA's zero gravity indicator, a plush Snoopy clad in an orange spacesuit, can be seen floating around the inside of the Orion capsule as the interior of the craft flashes with different colored lights.

    Commander Moonikin Campos, a mannequin equipped with sensors to collect data about the radiation environment in deep space, can be seen in the capsule. Campos will inform future Artemis missions on how to best protect human crews from this radiation. 

    At center is the Callisto payload, a technology demonstrator built by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with Amazon to test voice-activated digital assistant technology aboard Orion.

    NASA
  • <p> Minutes before the Orion spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere at a blazing speed of 25,000 mph (40,000 kph), it captured one last view of our planet as seen from deep space.  </p> <p> Orion's heat shield experienced temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius) as it reentered the atmosphere, roughly half the temperature of the surface of the sun. </p>
    10/11

    9. Orion gets one last view of Earth

    Minutes before the Orion spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere at a blazing speed of 25,000 mph (40,000 kph), it captured one last view of our planet as seen from deep space. 

    Orion's heat shield experienced temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius) as it reentered the atmosphere, roughly half the temperature of the surface of the sun.

    NASA
  • <p> At 12:40 p.m. EST (1740 GMT) on Dec. 11, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean some 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometers) away from its recovery ship, the U.S. Navy's USS Portland. NASA described Orion's landing as a "textbook entry." </p>
    11/11

    10. Orion splashes down

    At 12:40 p.m. EST (1740 GMT) on Dec. 11, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean some 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometers) away from its recovery ship, the U.S. Navy's USS Portland. NASA described Orion's landing as a "textbook entry."

    NASA/Kim Shiflett
<p> The first mission of NASA's ambitious Artemis program produced some beautiful images. </p> <p> When the 322-foot-tall (98 meters) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was rolled out to the pad at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Artemis 1 mission wowed the world with striking images. </p> <p> From the bright-as-day nighttime launch of SLS to the close-up shots of the moon's crater-pocked surface taken by the Orion spacecraft, the photos of Artemis 1 made the moon mission truly come to life. Join us as we look back through the mission with 10 of the greatest images from NASA's Artemis 1 mission.  </p> <p> <em>By Brett Tingley </em> </p>
<p> Some nine days before liftoff, NASA's Space Launch System rocket stood in the orange glow of a Florida sunset at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. </p>
<p> Seconds after ignition, SLS begins its journey to the moon on Nov. 16, 2022 as it lit up the night sky with its solid rocket boosters. The ignition of the Space Launch System rocket was so powerful that it damaged its mobile launch platform. </p>
<p> Roughly a minute after liftoff, SLS' fiery rocket boosters light up the massive smoke plume left in its wake as the moon can be seen in the distance. At launch, SLS was the most powerful rocket ever to take to the skies successfully, producing 8.8 million pounds (3.9 million kg) of thrust. </p>
<p> On Nov. 16, 2022, the first day of its mission, the Orion spacecraft captured this view of Earth as seen from deep space. The image was taken by a camera on the tip of one of Orion's solar arrays while the spacecraft was 57,000 miles (91,732 kilometers) from Earth on the way to the moon. </p>
<p> On the 13th day of its mission, Orion reached its maximum distance from Earth at 268,563 miles (432,210 kilometers) away. Orion traveled farther from our planet than any other spacecraft built for humans, breaking the record set by Apollo 13. </p>
<p> On Dec. 5, the 20th day of NASA's Artemis 1 mission, Orion captured this close-up of the lunar surface.  </p>
<p> On Day 21 of its mission, Dec. 5, Orion looked back at the moon following a powered flyby to set the spacecraft on a journey back towards home. </p> <p> Throughout the mission, Orion used its optical navigation camera to look at Earth and the moon at different phases and distances. These images will help NASA analyze the effectiveness of Orion's optical navigation system under different lighting conditions in order to inform the system's use in future missions. </p>
<p> NASA's zero gravity indicator, a plush Snoopy clad in an orange spacesuit, can be seen floating around the inside of the Orion capsule as the interior of the craft flashes with different colored lights.<br> <br> Commander Moonikin Campos, a mannequin equipped with sensors to collect data about the radiation environment in deep space, can be seen in the capsule. Campos will inform future Artemis missions on how to best protect human crews from this radiation.  </p> <p> At center is the Callisto payload, a technology demonstrator built by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with Amazon to test voice-activated digital assistant technology aboard Orion. </p>
<p> Minutes before the Orion spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere at a blazing speed of 25,000 mph (40,000 kph), it captured one last view of our planet as seen from deep space.  </p> <p> Orion's heat shield experienced temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius) as it reentered the atmosphere, roughly half the temperature of the surface of the sun. </p>
<p> At 12:40 p.m. EST (1740 GMT) on Dec. 11, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean some 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometers) away from its recovery ship, the U.S. Navy's USS Portland. NASA described Orion's landing as a "textbook entry." </p>
Originally published on Space

From the moment the Space Launch System rocket was rolled out to the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Artemis 1 mission has wowed the world with striking images.