NASA’s pioneering new spaceship captured a unique view from space. The uncrewed Orion capsule — currently in the middle of its first spaceflight test — beamed back footage of the moon orbiting a cloud-shrouded Earth on Nov. 28.
As part of a crucial mission called Artemis I, NASA is testing Orion’s capabilities by having the spacecraft orbit the moon as well. This time, three mannequins are travelling, but if the mission is a success, astronauts might fly on Orion as early as 2024.
This is RIGHT NOW. @NASA_Orion is looking back at Earth and the Moon from distant retrograde orbit. Watch the #Artemis I livestream: https://t.co/Qx1QFUdD08 pic.twitter.com/zMTorYQvjS
— NASA (@NASA) November 28, 2022
Orion is currently in a “distant retrograde orbit,” which allows it to observe Earth and its satellite from a unique vantage point. The spacecraft is 40,000 miles above the lunar surface in this orbit, allowing it to occasionally “look back” at our natural satellite and beyond.
