NASA Unveils Breathtaking iPhone Footage of Earthshine Captured During Artemis II Mission

NASA Unveils Breathtaking iPhone Footage of Earthshine Captured During Artemis II Mission

The space agency released remarkable video evidence of Earth's reflected light illuminating the Orion spacecraft's interior, recorded by astronaut Christina Koch on the mission's second day.

While the use of iPhones by the Artemis II crew for capturing imagery during their recent lunar mission may no longer be breaking news, astronomy enthusiasts continue to find value in every photograph and video from the expedition.

On April 22, 2026, the official NASA Artemis account on social media platform X unveiled a striking video demonstrating the phenomenon of Earthshine observed from the Orion capsule during the lunar flyby mission.

The Footage

The video captures astronaut Christina Koch with her face completely illuminated by sunlight bouncing off Earth's surface—a natural lighting effect that occurred during the spacecraft's second flight day. Following the initial shot, Koch rotates the device to frame Earth visible through the Orion window, with the faint reflection of the iPhone itself visible against the glass.

At the moment the footage was recorded, the Orion spacecraft maintained a distance of approximately 33,800 miles (54,500 kilometers) from Earth, providing a unique vantage point for capturing this celestial phenomenon.