NASA Releases Over 12,000 Images from Artemis II Lunar Flyby

NASA has added a massive collection of photographs taken during the Artemis II mission to its Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth archive. The release comprises more than 12,000 pictures captured by the four-person crew on a 10-day, 250,000-mile lunar flyby that launched on 1 April 2026 and concluded with splashdown on 10 April 2026.

NASA Just Dropped More Than 12,000 Photos from the Artemis II Mission

Artemis II marks the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17’s 1972 flight, representing the inaugural human departure from low-Earth orbit in more than half a century. After a translunar injection burn on 2 April, the Orion capsule “Integrity” performed a flyby of the Moon’s far side on 7 April, providing a seven-hour window for direct observation before returning to Earth.

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The crew consisted of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (NASA) and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency). Photographs were taken with a Nikon D5 SLR, a Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera, and an iPhone 17, as noted by the mission team.

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

• Total images released: reported as “more than 12,000” and, in one NASA archive count, 12,217.

NASA Just Dropped More Than 12,000 Photos from the Artemis II Mission

• Mission duration: 10 days, covering ~250,000 miles.

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• Key dates: launch 1 Apr 2026; translunar injection 2 Apr; solar eclipse view 6 Apr; lunar flyby 7 Apr; splashdown 10 Apr.

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• Notable captures: Earth’s night side (April 2), a solar eclipse halo, lunar surface details, interior reflections, and star fields obtained via long-exposure settings.

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NASA emphasized that the newly released Earth photograph differs from the 1972 Apollo 17 “Blue Marble” shot because it shows the planet’s night side, describing the contrast as “literally night and day.” The agency also indicated that a full dataset and preliminary scientific reports will be published in October.

These Remarkable Photos of Planet Earth Were Taken 50 Years Apart by NASA

Observers have noted that a substantial portion of the archive consists of repetitive, blurry, or pitch-black frames, which can make browsing cumbersome. Additionally, the high traffic on the Gateway website has been reported to cause slow loading times, limiting immediate public access to the full collection.

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Sources differ on the exact size of the release: one NASA archive lists 12,217 images, while other reports refer only to “more than 12,000” or “12,000 previously unseen pictures.” No further clarification has been provided, leaving the precise count ambiguous.

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

• “literally night and day.” — NASA

These Remarkable Photos of Planet Earth Were Taken 50 Years Apart by NASA

• “I particularly like this image of a field of stars shining bright outside the Orion capsule.” — Gizmodo author

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• “While some of the images are just pitch-black views from the crew capsule, others are real show-stoppers.” — Gizmodo author

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• “This new batch includes 12,000 previously unseen pictures.” — My Modern Met

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

• “The Artemis II crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen—took these images with a Nikon D5 SLR, Nikon Z9 mirrorless, and iPhone 17 cameras they brought on board.” — My Modern Met

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission

• “The full dataset, as well as preliminary reports on science and operations of the mission, is due to be published in October.” — Gizmodo

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The release provides unprecedented visual documentation of a modern crewed lunar trajectory, offering both scientific value and public engagement. By juxtaposing the Artemis II Earth night-side image with the Apollo 17 daylight view, the archive underscores advances in imaging technology and the evolving perspective on Earth’s place in space.

These Remarkable Photos of Planet Earth Were Taken 50 Years Apart by NASA

NASA plans to issue a comprehensive dataset and preliminary scientific analyses in October 2026. The images will also support upcoming Artemis missions, including Artemis III’s planned lunar landing, by informing navigation, lighting conditions, and crew experience documentation.

NASA Releases Over 12,000 Unseen Images From the Artemis II Mission