Mastodawn

Earth-set and Earth-rise over the Moon as observed by Artemis II astronauts last night.

This is a simple composite of two images taken about 45 minutes apart by the GoPro camera located on one of the the solar arrays. Earth-set is on the right, Earth-rise 45 minutes later is on the left.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwfNBtepa4
61/n

Sunset and Sunrise across the Moon as observed by Artemis II astronauts last night.

This is a simple composite of two images taken about 54 minutes apart by the GoPro camera located on one of the the solar arrays. Sunset is on the right, Sunrise ~54 minutes later is on the left.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwfNBtepa4
62/n

Hi-res Earth-set images captured using the Nikon D5 camera by astronauts aboard the Artemis II Orion spacecraft last night around 22:41 UTC.

EXIF data at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55193180468/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55193178333/
More images at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/with/55193462360
63/n

A fascinating image of the Moon's far side during the total solar eclipse, as seen last night by Artemis II astronauts around 01:06:19 UTC.

The glowing halo around the dark lunar disk is due to the zodiacal light, i.e, Sunlight reflected off space dust.

The left side of the moon is dimly lit up by Earth-shine, light reflected off Earth, located off the frame in the distance on the left.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55193054741/
More at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/
64/n

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55193566011/
65/n

The solar eclipse imaged by the "mighty" GoPro HERO4 Black camera mounted on one of the solar arrays of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, taken at 01:10:44 UTC.

Featuring the moon lit by Earthshine on the left, a halo of zodiacal light, planets Saturn and Mars on the lower right and stars posing for the camera.
😎
Go #Artemis. Go #GoPro.

https://quickmap.lroc.im-ldi.com/?camera=8583.1212%2C-4490898.2733%2C12862.3235%2C-0.0019%2C1%2C-0.0029%2C0%2C0.0029%2C1%2C60&showGraticule=true&stack=3314%2C3113&proj=22&defs=N4IgzAjBYgXKB7ADgQwMYEsAuBPOAGAOgBYwBfAGnEmLkVU1zgjLKA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_(crater)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity_(crater)
66/n

The two newly named craters on the Moon -
1. Carroll - named after astronaut Reid Wiseman's late wife, 18.84°N 86.83°W
2. Integrity - named after the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, 2.67°N 104.92°W

After the mission is complete, the crater name proposals will be submitted to the International Astronomical Union for official review and adoption.

AkaSci 🛰️

From Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency.

Pic taken by one of the 4 GoPro cameras mounted on solar panels on the European Service Module (ESM).

The ESM provides propulsion, water and oxygen for astronauts, electrical power generation and storage, and temperature control.
😎
@markmccaughrean @bert_hubert @cosmos4u
67/n

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55192657082/
68/n

AkaSci 🛰️18h ago

Here is the awesome selfie of the European Service Module (ESM) with Earthset over the moon in the background. Taken by one of the 4 GoPro HERO4 Black cameras mounted on the solar panels of the ESM.

Camera: GoPro, HERO4 Black, 12MP
FocalLength: 3.0 mm
ISO 100
ExposureTime: 1/3500 s
CreateDate: 2026:04:06 22:42:14 UTC
Distance to lunar surface: 6,420 km

AkaSci 🛰️13h ago

Wake-up music for Artemis II astronauts today - “Under Pressure,” by Queen and David Bowie.

"It's the terror of knowing what this world is about
Watching some good friends screaming, "Let me out"
Pray tomorrow gets me higher
Pressure on people, people on streets
...
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love that one more chance?"

Very apt song for these trying times.
And featuring, among others, astrophysicist and guitarist Sir Brian May.
😎
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I
69/n

Queen and David Bowie - Under Pressure (Official Video)

Taken from Hot Space, 1982.Click here to buy the DVD with this video at the Official Queen Store:http://www.queenonlinestore.comThe official 'Under Pressure'...

YouTube

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/55194459003/
70/n

AkaSci 🛰️11h ago

Lovely crisp shot of the Artemis II Orion European Service Module (ESM) and the thrusters at its bottom, taken by one of the GoPro HERO4 Black cameras mounted on each of the 4 solar arrays.

Can you see how the GoPro camera is mounted at the end of the solar array?

Settings for this image:
FocalLength: 3.0 mm
ISO 100
ExposureTime: 1/2400 s
CreateDate: 2026:04:07 13:40:25 UTC
Distance from Moon: 52,430 km

Go #Artemis2 #Orion #ESM
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230003915/downloads/Wi-Fi%20on%20Artemis%201%20-%20FINAL.pdf
71/n

AkaSci 🛰️11h ago

Some info on the GoPro HERO4 cameras attached to each of the 4 solar arrays of the Artemis II Orion European Service Module (ESM).

These are a WiFi-based GoPro cameras, modified for use in space.
- 5.8 GHz WiFi
- 4kx3k pixels (12 MP)
- Fixed 18-mm lens
- No LED/LCD display
- Metal case

The primary purpose of these cameras is to check the health and status of the spacecraft and to aid in problem diagnosis.

AkaSci 🛰️7h ago

O what a difference it makes when a genuine world leader and gracious human being has a conversation with the Artemis II astronauts!

PM Mark Carney: "I just wonder, a lot of Canadians just want one point of reassurance that the preference is for maple syrup over Nutella on on your pancakes in the morning."
🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzl7WGluYgk
72/n

Carney’s long-distance call to space: PM speaks with Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II crew

YouTube

John Francis 🇨🇦🦫🍁💪⬆️11h ago

@AkaSci pretty beefy metal enclosure...a lot better than the plastic case.

rvstaveren 17h ago

@AkaSci wait what, those GoPro’s can work in vacuum and vast temperature range of outer space? Or do they have an enclosure?

AkaSci 🛰️10h ago

@rvstaveren
See post #71 in this long thread for some more info on the GoPro camera

Flaki 18h ago

@AkaSci wait whut there is an actual GoPro mounted in the cold (and sometimes very, very hot) dead space on the Artemis, just like that??

axel.18h ago

@flaki @AkaSci Four, one on each wing

axel.18h ago

@AkaSci @markmccaughrean @bert_hubert @cosmos4u You can even spot the modest esa logo under the NASA worms.

@axeln @AkaSci @bert_hubert @cosmos4u You can be pretty sure that there was more than one meeting & extensive paperwork that had to be agreed on by lawyers before those relative proportions were agreed. Fortunately, I was not even slightly involved.

@AkaSci @markmccaughrean @bert_hubert @cosmos4u

mbpaz 18h ago

"But apart from propulsion, water and oxygen for astronauts, electrical power generation and storage, and temperature control, what has ESA ever done for us?"

@mbpaz @AkaSci @bert_hubert @cosmos4u
Chef's kiss – the perfect analogy 🙇‍♂️

Daniel Fischer 17h ago

@AkaSci @markmccaughrean @bert_hubert The ESM's main engine - which did the TLI burn - is U.S.-made and used (it flew on a space shuttle several times): how did ESA get hold of it? Was it a gift, part of a barter deal or bought for hard $$? This is surprisingly hard to find out. The heritage of this crucial ESM component is sometimes mentioned (like in the NASA live commentary) and most often not - even at one of the many Artemis II press conferences a NASA (!) manager stated in Q&A that everything on the ESM was European.

simonbp 17h ago

@cosmos4u @AkaSci @markmccaughrean @bert_hubert It's probably a good question if it was integrated on the ESM before or after arriving in the US. After would've been a whole lot less paperwork.

https://blogs.esa.int/orion/2023/04/03/the-artemis-ii-engine-with-a-legacy/

@simonbp @cosmos4u @AkaSci @bert_hubert According to this ESA blog post, it was an OMS-E engine installed on Atlantis & flew six times between 2000 & 2002. It was then in storage for 20 years before going to Bremen to be installed & tested on ESM-2. The nozzle though was only installed at KSC, if I've read that right.

But to Daniel's question about the "deal" by which ESA secured it, I don't know. I do know people who would know though, so can try asking.

The Artemis II engine with a legacy – Orion blog

News and updates on Europe's Service Module for NASA's Orion spacecraft and Artemis

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140008543/downloads/20140008543.pdf

@simonbp @cosmos4u @AkaSci @bert_hubert FWIW, this NASA presentation from 2013 says that the ESM main engine was one of "the agreed to NASA contributions to the ESA SM" (bottom of page 8).

That's slightly convoluted language, but suggests that the engine may have been simply given to ESA at no cost as part of the joint Orion programme.

Lots of other interesting details in there as well.

Jos Dingjan 14h ago

@bert_hubert @cosmos4u @markmccaughrean @AkaSci @simonbp If I had to guess I’d go for “Customer-Furnished Item” or CFI.