LAST UPDATE | 7 Apr

First photo from the far side of the Moon. Captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon. NASA NASA

TWO NEW IMAGES of the Moon, taken by Artemis II astronauts from space, have been released by Nasa.

It follows the four-strong crew completing a flyby around the far side of the Moon.

The two images shared by Nasa are captioned ‘Earthset’ and ‘The Artemis II Eclipse’. Earthset follow more than 57 years after an iconic ‘Earthrise’ image was captured by an Apollo 8 astronaut.

US astronaut Bill Anders took the legendary ‘Earthrise’ during the first space mission to carry humans around the Moon in December 1968.

EARTHSET.
April 6, 2026.

Humanity, from the other side. First photo from the far side of the Moon. Captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon. Photo: NASA pic.twitter.com/ZEBTQA85TY

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026

Nasa mission control in Houston regained communications with the Artemis astronauts after an expected blackout that lasted some 40 minutes shortly after midnight Irish time.

The crew performed a more than six-hour lunar observation period, documenting features of the Moon’s surface that were previously mostly known via photographs taken by robots.

'From lunar orbit, the Moon eclipses the Sun, revealing a view few in human history have ever witnessed'. NASA NASA

“We will always choose Earth, we will always choose each other,” said astronaut Christina Koch, in initial comments following the signal cut that happened as their spacecraft passed behind the Moon.

The crew grew emotional as they said they were naming a moon crater, described as a “bright spot on the moon”, Carroll after the late wife of the mission’s commander Reid Wiseman.

US President Donald Trump called and congratulated the Artemis astronauts circling the Moon for making “history,” telling them they’ve “made all America really proud, incredibly proud.”

“You really are modern-day pioneers – all of you,” Trump said, before launching into a friendly interview of sorts with the three Americans and one Canadian who are on a historic 10-day mission around Earth’s natural satellite.

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman looks out one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows at the Moon Alamy Alamy

“You’ve got a lot of courage doing what you’re doing,” Trump said, lavishing praise on NASA’s first lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

“America will be second to none in space and everything we’re doing, and we will continue to lead the whole thing into the stars, this incredible journey into the stars,” Trump said, crediting himself with choosing to save the space program.

Artemis II mission specialist Jeremy Hansen shaves inside the Orion spacecraft Alamy Alamy

Trump then conducted a brief question-and-answer session, asking what the dark side of the moon was like and how it felt to go incommunicado with Earth during that part of the space flight.

“I said a little prayer, but then I had to keep rolling,” Artemis pilot Victor Glover responded. “I was actually recording scientific observations of the far side of the Moon.”

The 79-year-old Republican added that he’d spoken to Canada’s leader and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky about the “neighbour” country’s addition to the space mission.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen thanked Trump for American “space leadership” and called the effort a “mutually beneficial goal.”

“A nation that leads like [the US] and creates and sets big goals for humanity that brings other countries along with it, is truly incredible,” Hansen said, adding: “Canadians are so proud to be a part of this program.”

The astronauts wrapped up their lunar flyby and will continue their journey back to Earth today, bringing with them rich celestial observations including little-known lunar craters, a solar eclipse and meteor strikes that scientists hope will open doors.

Trump ended the call by inviting the astronauts to the White House.

“Congratulations to everybody. I’ll see you at the Oval Office,” he said.