Photos of Earth taken by NASA 54 years apart.

Photos of Earth taken by NASA 54 years apart.

It's remarkable that we're alive to witness both. That we get to see our planet the way only a handful of humans ever have 

 Captured over half a century apart, these two "Blue Marble" images represent the bookends of a legacy. On the top is the original Apollo 17 photograph from December 7, 1972, famously taken as the last humans to walk on the Moon left Earth behind. Below it is a stunning new perspective from the Artemis II mission, captured on April 3, 2026, as the first crewed lunar mission of the 21st century began its journey to the Moon.

The 1972 Legacy: Apollo 17

The original "Blue Marble" was captured by the crew of Apollo 17—Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, and Harrison Schmitt—from a distance of about 18,000 miles (29,000 km

• A Unique View: Because the Sun was directly behind the spacecraft, the Earth appeared fully illuminated, like a glass marble.
• Visible Landmarks: This iconic shot clearly shows the coastline of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, and the south polar ice cap.
• Cultural Impact: It became one of the most widely distributed images in history, serving as a powerful symbol for the burgeoning environmental movement.

The 2026 Return: Artemis II

The 2026 image marks a historic "full circle" moment. Launched on April 1, 2026, Artemis II carried the first four humans—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—beyond low Earth orbit in over 50 years.

• The "Hello World" Shot: This new view was captured by Commander Reid Wiseman through an Orion spacecraft window after the critical translunar injection (TLI) burn.
• Technological Evolution: While the 1972 photo was shot on film using a Hasselblad camera, the 2026 image was captured digitally using a Nikon D5.
• A New Perspective: Captured roughly 100,000 miles from home, the image reveals a vibrant globe with visible auroras along the edges

Comparing the Missions

While both missions share the goal of lunar exploration, their objectives differ significantly:

Feature	Apollo 17 (1972)	Artemis II (2026)
Mission Type	Lunar Landing	Lunar Flyby
Crew Size	3 Astronauts	4 Astronauts
Max Distance	~248,655 miles	~252,757 miles (new record)
Spacecraft	Apollo Command/Lunar Modules	Orion Capsule ("Integrity")
Launch Vehicle	Saturn V	Space Launch System (SLS)

Artemis II is not just a repeat of history; it is a critical test flight. By verifying Orion's life-support and navigation systems, this 10-day mission paves the way for Artemis IV, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface in 2028.