SPACE — NASA released a stunning new photograph on Sunday captured by the Artemis II crew showing the far side of the moon — a view no human eyes have seen in more than half a century and one that has never been photographed from this vantage point by astronauts in the history of space exploration.

The image, taken on Flight Day 4 of the mission, shows the moon oriented with its South Pole facing upward, revealing sweeping terrain that remains permanently hidden from observers on Earth. Along the right edge of the frame sits the Orientale basin — a massive, ancient impact crater that scientists have studied for decades through robotic probes but that no human crew has ever witnessed directly.

Until now.

A View 50 Years In The Making

The four Artemis II astronauts are the first humans to travel this deep into space since the Apollo 17 crew returned from the lunar surface in December 1972. Their 10-day mission, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, is designed to loop around the moon without landing — a critical shakedown flight for NASA's Orion spacecraft ahead of future landing missions.

Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew — pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — have been transmitting images and video throughout the journey that have captivated audiences worldwide.

But it was the far side image that drew the most attention.

In interviews conducted from deep space, the crew described the experience in terms that underscored how profoundly different the view is from anything visible on Earth.

Preparing For The Historic Flyby

On Flight Day 5, the crew donned and demonstrated their flight suits in preparation for the lunar flyby, which is scheduled for Monday, April 6, between 2:45 PM and 9:40 PM EDT. During that window, the Orion spacecraft will pass close enough to the moon for the astronauts to make detailed scientific observations of the lunar surface — data that will help inform future Artemis landing site selections.

After looping around the far side, the spacecraft will use the moon's gravity to slingshot back toward Earth, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 10 at approximately 8:06 PM ET.

Toilet Trouble And Human Realities Of Deep Space

The mission has not been without its challenges. Earlier in the flight, NASA acknowledged that the Orion spacecraft's waste management system experienced a malfunction, and crew members reported a burning odor inside the cabin. Engineers on the ground worked with the crew to troubleshoot the issue, and NASA officials said the situation was resolved without any safety concerns.

Despite the technical hiccup, the astronauts have remained in high spirits. In a press conference from space, the crew reflected on the awe of watching Earth shrink behind them — a sight only 24 humans in history have ever experienced.

What It Means For The Future

The Artemis II mission represents a critical stepping stone in NASA's broader Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface and eventually establish a sustained human presence on and around the moon. The data collected during this flyby will directly inform the planning for Artemis III, which is expected to attempt the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17.

The far side photograph, meanwhile, has already become one of the most shared images in NASA history — a reminder that even in an age of AI-generated imagery and digital saturation, there is still nothing quite like a real picture taken by real humans from the void of deep space.

The Artemis II lunar flyby is scheduled for April 6. USA Herald will provide live coverage and updates throughout the event.