Christina Koch talks about the beauty of the planet seen from space; mission will reach the orbit of the Moon on Monday (April 6, 2026)
The astronaut used her Instagram profile this Sunday (April 5, 2026) to publish a tribute to Earth. She is one of the mission’s crew. In the post, she wrote that the contrast between the illuminated side and the shadow of the Earth refers to “an upturned smile”.
Koch also posted a photo of Earth.
Here is the full text:
“Terra.
“The lit side hovered in the darkness like a teardrop. Intense blue, with the 2 impossibly bright poles, wrapping the light around the shadow. An upturned smile.
“The dark side pulsed with life. Green auroras danced over the poles like headphones, while storms set the rhythm with thunder that streaked the continents. A perfect arc of light, everyone’s sunset.”
Artemis 2
The Artemis 2 mission, the first manned flight of NASA’s lunar program since 1972, was launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center, in the USA. Four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency) – are on board Orion, on a flight around the Moon with a return to Earth in around 10 days.
The objective is to test Orion systems – including life support, communication and propulsion – and manned flight procedures around the Moon, in addition to evaluating the crew’s routine and performance in microgravity conditions. Astronauts will conduct experiments, systems monitoring and navigation maneuvers, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of future lunar missions.
The mission to the Moon on Monday afternoon (April 6, 2026), when the Orion spacecraft will perform a 6-hour flyby around Earth’s natural satellite. During this phase, a blackout of around 40 minutes is expected in communication with the team on the ground, caused by the capsule passing through the hidden side of the Moon.
Watch the moment of Artemis 2 launch (3min45s):
