Artemis 1 moon mission: First images of Earth from NASA’s Orion spacecraft

California: A space capsule hurtled toward the moon for the first time in 50 years, following a thunderous launch of NASA’s mightiest rocket in a dress rehearsal for astronaut flights. No one was on board this debut flight, just three test dummies. The capsule is headed for a wide orbit around the moon and then a return to Earth with a Pacific splashdown in about three weeks.

Orion was 9.5 hours into the 25.5-day test flight when the views of planet Earth of captured by the space capsule.

New views of planet Earth from @NASA_Orion as #Artemis I journeys to the Moon. Orion is 9.5 hours into a 25.5-day test flight. pic.twitter.com/CBaA4ZOK4X

— NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2022

Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard on Wednesday, bringing the US a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. In less than two hours into the flight, the Orion capsule perched on top of SLS busted out of Earth’s orbit toward the moon.

“What an incredible sight to see Nasa’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch together for the first time. This uncrewed flight test will push Orion to the limits in the rigors of deep space, helping us prepare for human exploration on the Moon and, ultimately, Mars,” said Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson.

Orion is scheduled to make its closest approach to the vicinity of the Moon on November 21. After coming within 130 km of the moon, the capsule will enter a far-flung orbit stretching about 64,000 km beyond.