Artemis II crew used modern photography to tell the visual story of their lunar journey – and update some classic Apollo images

The Conversation
by Jennifer Levasseur, Curator of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
April 11, 2026
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The Artemis II crew used modern photography to update classic Apollo images from their lunar journey.

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The Artemis II crew used modern photography, including iPhones and Nikon digital cameras, to document their recent lunar journey. NASA astronaut Christina Koch was photographed gazing at Earth on April 2, 2026, with an iPhone 17 Pro Max. These digital photographs, some transmitted mid-mission, provide a refreshed look at space for generations born after Apollo 17's last lunar mission in 1972. The crew, including Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, underwent weeks of photography training. Their images, which include a solar eclipse captured on April 6, 2026, and an "Earthset," are now safely stored on memory cards with NASA.

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NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Preparations

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NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Preparations

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Artemis II Lunar Flyby Mission

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NASA's Artemis II Lunar Flyby Mission

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Artemis II Lunar Mission

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Artemis II Mission Breaks Distance Record

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Artemis II Mission: Lunar Flyby and Distance Record

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Artemis II Mission Breaks Space Travel Records

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Artemis II Mission Breaks Distance Record

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Artemis II Mission Returns to Earth

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Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Splashdown

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Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Pacific Splashdown

The historic Artemis II mission successfully concluded with its Orion spacecraft and four astronauts splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. This marks a significant milestone for NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the Moon, providing valuable data and momentum for future lunar endeavors.

Artemis II Mission Concludes Successfully

NASA's Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, successfully concluded its historic journey around the Moon and returned to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marks a significant step in humanity's return to lunar exploration and provides crucial data for future deep-space endeavors.

Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Lunar Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed its historic journey around the Moon, with four astronauts splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marked the first crewed test flight around the Moon in decades, paving the way for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission successfully returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after a historic journey around the Moon. This mission marks a significant step in humanity's return to lunar exploration and provides crucial data for future space endeavors.

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II mission successfully concluded with its four astronauts splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. This historic journey marked humanity's first crewed lunar flyby in decades, providing NASA with crucial momentum for future lunar exploration and the broader 'moon race'.

Artemis II Moon Mission Concludes with Successful Splashdown

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts on a historic lunar flyby, successfully concluded with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This milestone marks a critical step in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond.

Artemis II Mission: Historic Lunar Flyby and Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years. The four astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, providing NASA with crucial momentum for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully returned to Earth, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission, the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years, marks a critical step in NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the lunar surface.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission, the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years, marks a significant milestone for NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond.

Artemis II Mission: Historic Lunar Flyby and Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years. The four astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding a critical step in NASA's plans for future lunar exploration and a potential human return to the Moon.

Artemis II Mission: Return from Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission marks a significant step in renewed space exploration efforts, with NASA already looking ahead to future endeavors despite budget concerns.

Artemis II Moon Mission Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, returning safely to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marked the first human lunar travel in over 50 years, reigniting the space race and setting the stage for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Crew Returns After Successful Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their nine-day voyage around the Moon, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. The four astronauts returned to Earth with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, receiving a jubilant welcome in Houston.

Artemis II Astronauts Return Home After Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully returned to Earth after a nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Their record-breaking mission, which took them further than any human has traveled in over 50 years, marks a significant milestone in renewed space exploration efforts, although concerns about potential NASA budget cuts loom.

Artemis II Astronauts Return from Moon Mission

The Artemis II astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after a record-breaking nine-day voyage around the Moon. Their safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean marks a significant milestone for NASA's lunar exploration program, though the future of the program faces potential budget cuts.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth after a record-breaking nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The four astronauts were welcomed home in Houston to widespread cheers, marking a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration program and renewing focus on the space race with China.

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