The astronauts of Artemis II have now become forever linked with the mission of Apollo 8. Following the historic lunar flyaround, NASA has unveiled captivating images captured by the U.S.-Canadian crew. These four astronauts paid tribute to Apollo 8’s iconic “Earthrise” photograph from 1968 by creating their own version called “Earthset,” depicting our planet setting behind the moon’s gray, cratered surface.
During the Apollo 8 mission on December 24, 1968, astronaut William Anders famously photographed the original “Earthrise.” This first-ever color photo of Earth taken from space is credited with catalyzing the global environmental movement and inspiring the establishment of Earth Day in 1970, an annual event dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and activism.
One of the photos taken by the Artemis II crew captures a total solar eclipse as seen from their perspective in space when the moon obstructed the sun. The three American astronauts and one Canadian onboard are now en route back home, scheduled for a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday.
Apollo 8’s astronauts were the first humans to orbit the moon on Christmas Eve in 1968, with their “Earthrise” image becoming an emblem of the contemporary environmental conservation movement. Artemis II represents NASA’s initial return to the moon with astronauts, a crucial milestone preceding a lunar landing by a different crew in two years.