# Free Return — Artemis II, as the crew saw it https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/ · Photos: NASA / Artemis II crew (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen of the CSA) Artemis II launched April 1, 2026 at 6:35 p.m. EDT and splashed down in the Pacific off San Diego on April 10. Free Return places the crew's photographs where and when they were taken on Orion's real path, rebuilt from the spacecraft position NASA logged with each photo. ## 1. Launch April 1, 2026, 6:35 p.m. EDT. Four astronauts leave Florida for the first crewed flight beyond Earth orbit since 1972. ## 2. High Earth orbit A day looping around Earth to check out Orion: life support, navigation, manual flying. - [ART002-E-23568](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-23568/) — Earth from high orbit, 35,420 km up. Taken April 2, 2026 at 21:05:21 UTC (Apr 2, 5:05 PM EDT), mission time T+00d 22:30:21, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 41,798 km (25,972 mi) from Earth. ## 3. Hello, world The translunar burn. Earth falls away in the window — the first time humans have seen it whole since Apollo 17. - [ART002-E-23705](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-23705/) — A sliver of sunlit Earth, minutes after the burn that sent Orion to the Moon. Taken April 3, 2026 at 00:21:33 UTC (Apr 2, 8:21 PM EDT), mission time T+01d 01:46:33, with a Nikon D5 at 80 mm. Orion was 14,579 km (9,059 mi) from Earth. - [ART002-E-192](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-192/) — Hello, world.” Earth upside-down: northern Africa, Spain, the Atlantic and two green auroras. Taken April 3, 2026 at 00:27:39 UTC (Apr 2, 8:27 PM EDT), mission time T+01d 01:52:39, with a Nikon D5 at 22 mm. Orion was 16,521 km (10,266 mi) from Earth. ## 4. The long coast Three days coasting outbound. Earth shrinks to a crescent; the Moon grows ahead. - [ART002-E-9160](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9160/) — Earth from 203,786 km, on the way to the Moon. Taken April 3, 2026 at 23:32:08 UTC (Apr 3, 7:32 PM EDT), mission time T+02d 00:57:08, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 203,786 km (126,627 mi) from Earth. - [ART002-E-4437](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-4437/) — Crescent Earth, a day into the coast toward the Moon. Taken April 3, 2026 at 23:38:59 UTC (Apr 3, 7:38 PM EDT), mission time T+02d 01:03:59, with a Nikon D5 at 150 mm. Orion was 204,375 km (126,993 mi) from Earth. - [ART002-E-9168](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9168/) — The Moon, still 236,000 km ahead. Taken April 3, 2026 at 23:45:52 UTC (Apr 3, 7:45 PM EDT), mission time T+02d 01:10:52, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 204,964 km (127,359 mi) from Earth. - [ART002-E-4474](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-4474/) — Earth from 233,431 km, on the way to the Moon. Taken April 4, 2026 at 05:39:38 UTC (Apr 4, 1:39 AM EDT), mission time T+02d 07:04:38, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 233,431 km (145,047 mi) from Earth. ## 5. Lunar approach The Moon fills the windows. The crew begins seven hours of lunar photography. - [ART002-E-24168](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-24168/) — Day five. The Moon grows in the window, 72,500 km away. Taken April 6, 2026 at 02:42:47 UTC (Apr 5, 10:42 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 04:07:47, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 376,598 km (234,007 mi) from Earth and 70,792 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-29568](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-29568/) — The Moon on approach, 24,467 km away. Taken April 6, 2026 at 16:34:07 UTC (Apr 6, 12:34 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 17:59:07, with a Nikon Z 9 at 300 mm. Orion was 404,138 km (251,120 mi) from Earth and 24,467 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-9768](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9768/) — The Moon on approach, 14,270 km away. Taken April 6, 2026 at 19:35:05 UTC (Apr 6, 3:35 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 21:00:05, with a Nikon D5 at 180 mm. Orion was 409,314 km (254,336 mi) from Earth and 14,270 km above the Moon. ## 6. The far side Ground no human eye had seen directly in 53 years: Orientale, Hertzsprung, Vavilov. - [ART002-E-9851](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9851/) — Near Orientale basin: craters the crew proposed naming Integrity and Carroll. Taken April 6, 2026 at 19:37:58 UTC (Apr 6, 3:37 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 21:02:58, with a Nikon D5 at 180 mm. Orion was 409,398 km (254,388 mi) from Earth and 14,112 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-20000](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-20000/) — The far side of the Moon from 12,303 km. Taken April 6, 2026 at 20:11:53 UTC (Apr 6, 4:11 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 21:36:53, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 410,291 km (254,943 mi) from Earth and 12,303 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-10247](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-10247/) — Vavilov crater on the rim of the Hertzsprung basin, lunar far side. Taken April 6, 2026 at 21:45:31 UTC (Apr 6, 5:45 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 23:10:31, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 412,392 km (256,248 mi) from Earth and 8,014 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-9282](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9282/) — The lunar far side near Vavilov, from 7,867 km. Taken April 6, 2026 at 21:49:43 UTC (Apr 6, 5:49 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 23:14:43, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 412,466 km (256,294 mi) from Earth and 7,867 km above the Moon. ## 7. Earthset Behind the Moon, out of contact with home, they watch Earth slip below the lunar horizon. - [ART002-E-19190](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-19190/) — Earthset at 22:30 UTC: Earth sinking behind the Moon. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:30:57 UTC (Apr 6, 6:30 PM EDT), mission time T+04d 23:55:57, with a Nikon D5 at 80 mm. Orion was 413,000 km (256,626 mi) from Earth and 6,795 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-20950](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-20950/) — Earthset at 22:36 UTC: Earth sinking behind the Moon. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:36:05 UTC (Apr 6, 6:36 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 00:01:05, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 413,038 km (256,650 mi) from Earth and 6,717 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-21106](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-21106/) — Role reversal: a crescent Earth hangs beyond the Moon. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:40:25 UTC (Apr 6, 6:40 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 00:05:25, with a Nikon D5 at 140 mm. Orion was 413,067 km (256,668 mi) from Earth and 6,663 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-21208](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-21208/) — Earthset — Earth dropping behind the lunar horizon. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:41:45 UTC (Apr 6, 6:41 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 00:06:45, with a Nikon D5 at 102 mm. Orion was 413,078 km (256,675 mi) from Earth and 6,649 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-21278](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-21278/) — A breathtaking Earthset from Orion. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:42:42 UTC (Apr 6, 6:42 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 00:07:42, with a Nikon D5 at 400 mm. Orion was 413,081 km (256,677 mi) from Earth and 6,638 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-16127](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-16127/) — Earthset at 22:43 UTC: Earth sinking behind the Moon. Taken April 6, 2026 at 22:43:12 UTC (Apr 6, 6:43 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 00:08:12, with a Nikon Z 9 at 35 mm. Orion was 413,083 km (256,678 mi) from Earth and 6,632 km above the Moon. ## 8. Eclipse The Sun disappears behind the Moon. The corona blooms around a black disk. - [ART002-E-10574](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-10574/) — The solar eclipse from Orion at 00:34 UTC. Taken April 7, 2026 at 00:34:11 UTC (Apr 6, 8:34 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 01:59:11, with a Nikon D5 at 300 mm. Orion was 412,232 km (256,149 mi) from Earth and 8,710 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-9297](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9297/) — The solar eclipse from Orion at 00:34 UTC. Taken April 7, 2026 at 00:34:15 UTC (Apr 6, 8:34 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 01:59:15, with a Nikon D5 at 300 mm. Orion was 412,234 km (256,150 mi) from Earth and 8,712 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-11568](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-11568/) — The solar eclipse from Orion at 01:00 UTC. Taken April 7, 2026 at 01:00:03 UTC (Apr 6, 9:00 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 02:25:03, with a Nikon D5 at 80 mm. Orion was 411,724 km (255,833 mi) from Earth and 9,840 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-9300](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-9300/) — Total solar eclipse: the Moon blocks the Sun from Orion’s viewpoint. Taken April 7, 2026 at 01:04:57 UTC (Apr 6, 9:04 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 02:29:57, with a Nikon Z 9 at 35 mm. Orion was 411,631 km (255,776 mi) from Earth and 10,069 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-16066](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-16066/) — Sunlight bursts back around the lunar limb. Taken April 7, 2026 at 01:29:22 UTC (Apr 6, 9:29 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 02:54:22, with a Nikon Z 9 at 35 mm. Orion was 411,092 km (255,441 mi) from Earth and 11,260 km above the Moon. ## 9. Homeward The free return. Lunar gravity bends the path back toward a growing blue Earth. - [ART002-E-29783](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-29783/) — Starry night” — star trails and the Milky Way on the way home. Taken April 7, 2026 at 21:24:58 UTC (Apr 7, 5:24 PM EDT), mission time T+05d 22:49:58, with a Nikon Z 9 at 35 mm. Orion was 374,169 km (232,498 mi) from Earth and 77,453 km above the Moon. - [ART002-E-27854](https://artemis2.mixinvisuals.com/photo/art002-e-27854/) — Looking back at the Moon, 171,501 km behind. Taken April 9, 2026 at 03:36:55 UTC (Apr 8, 11:36 PM EDT), mission time T+07d 05:01:55, with a Nikon Z 9 at 300 mm. Orion was 290,599 km (180,570 mi) from Earth. ## 10. Splashdown Entry at about 25,000 mph, three parachutes, and the Pacific off San Diego.