Artemis 2 Astronauts to Recreate Apollo 8’s Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photo on April 6
On April 6, Artemis 2 astronauts will attempt to recreate the Apollo 8 Earthrise image during their lunar flyby. The original photograph was taken on Christmas Eve 1968 by the Apollo 8 crew.
Legacy of the 1968 Earthrise
Apollo 8 became the first mission to carry humans around the moon. Its crew photographed Earth rising above the lunar horizon during the fourth orbit.
The image arrived amid the Vietnam War and rising environmental activism. It quickly became a powerful symbol of Earth’s fragility and unity.
How the Apollo 8 image was captured
Commander Frank Borman, Lunar Module Pilot Bill Anders, and Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell crewed Apollo 8. The spacecraft completed ten lunar orbits.
Anders used a Hasselblad camera with a 250mm lens to take the famous shot. The photograph was unplanned and taken as Apollo 8 emerged from the far side.
Artemis 2 mission profile
Artemis 2 will swing once around the moon’s far side without entering lunar orbit. The flyby will occur more than 57 years after Apollo 8.
The Orion capsule, named Integrity, will pass at altitudes between about 4,000 and 6,000 miles. That equals roughly 6,430 to 9,650 kilometers above the lunar surface.
Crew and equipment
- Reid Wiseman — NASA
- Victor Glover — NASA
- Christina Koch — NASA
- Jeremy Hansen — Canadian Space Agency
The Artemis 2 astronauts will carry digital Nikon D5 cameras for imaging. They will have only minutes to capture Earthrise and a corresponding Earthset.
Key differences from Apollo 8
Altitude will be the major difference. Apollo 8 was about 60 miles above the surface when Anders shot Earthrise.
Integrity will pass much higher, roughly up to 100 times that altitude. This will change perspective and scale in any photographs.
| Feature | Apollo 8 | Artemis 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude at photo | ≈ 60 miles (97 km) | ≈ 4,000–6,000 miles (6,430–9,650 km) |
| Orbits | 10 lunar orbits | Single far-side flyby; no orbit |
| Camera | Hasselblad film with 250mm lens | Digital Nikon D5 |
Lighting and imaging considerations
NASA noted on April 2 that the lunar far side will be only partially illuminated during the flyby. Partial lighting should cast long shadows and reveal surface relief.
Those conditions differ from the sunlit scene Anders photographed. Visualization lead Ernie Wright at Goddard produced depictions showing how Earthrise might appear under varied lighting.
Why a new Earthrise still matters
The original image resonated because it arrived during turbulent times on Earth. Leaders, activists, and the public saw a planet appearing small and shared.
Filmogaz.com hopes the Artemis 2 images will again prompt reflection. A new Earthrise photograph could remind observers of global connections and shared responsibility.
