The Artemis II astronauts have created a unique connection to the legacy of Apollo 8. Following their historic lunar flyaround, NASA unveiled remarkable images captured by the U.S.-Canadian crew the day after the event. In a tribute to Apollo 8’s iconic “Earthrise” photograph from 1968, the four astronauts presented their own version titled “Earthset,” showcasing the Earth setting behind the moon’s gray, cratered surface.
The original “Earthrise” image was taken by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission on December 24, 1968. This groundbreaking color photograph taken from space played a pivotal role in igniting the global environmental movement, ultimately leading to the establishment of Earth Day in 1970, an annual initiative promoting environmental awareness and activism.
One of the newly released photos captured a total solar eclipse witnessed by the crew as the moon obstructed the sun from their viewpoint. The expedition, consisting of three American and one Canadian astronauts, is now en route back to Earth, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific scheduled for Friday.
In a parallel to history, the three Apollo 8 astronauts were the first humans to orbit the moon on Christmas Eve in 1968. Their “Earthrise” image has since become an enduring symbol of the environmental conservation movement. Artemis II represents NASA’s inaugural return to the moon with astronauts, marking a critical progression towards a lunar landing by a different crew in the coming two years.