The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis 2 mission will attempt to recreate one of space exploration's most iconic images during their lunar flyby. Plans are in place for the astronauts to photograph Earth rising over the moon's horizon, replicating the famous "Earthrise" image captured by Apollo 8 in 1968.
The crew, including NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is currently aboard the Orion crew capsule as it approaches the lunar flyby phase. Recent images from April 3, 2026, show the astronauts working in the dimly lit spacecraft, with Koch reading on a tablet and Hansen observing through one of Orion's windows.
The photographic attempt is scheduled for April 6 during the mission's closest approach to the moon. This lunar flyby represents a critical milestone in NASA's Artemis program, testing Orion's systems and crew operations in the deep space environment before future lunar landing missions.
The recreation attempt carries both symbolic and technical significance for the Artemis program. While Apollo 8's Earthrise photo became a defining image of the environmental movement and humanity's place in the cosmos, the Artemis 2 version would mark the return of human crews to lunar space after more than five decades.
The mission serves as a crucial stepping stone toward NASA's goal of landing the first woman and next man on the lunar surface, validating life support systems and navigation capabilities needed for extended lunar operations.