Artemis II Commander Films Earth Vanishing Behind the Moon

Reid Wiseman didn't need fancy equipment to capture one of the most awe-inspiring moments in human spaceflight history.

The Artemis II mission commander used his iPhone 17 Pro Max to film Earth vanishing behind the Moon through a narrow docking hatch window. The unedited footage, shot with 8x zoom, captures what Wiseman's own eyes saw during a moment no human had witnessed in more than five decades.

While mission specialist Christina Koch snapped still images with a Nikon camera, Wiseman scrambled to record video of the rare Earthset. "I could barely see the Moon through the docking hatch window but the iPhone was the perfect size to catch the view," he shared on social media.

The Artemis II crew made history as they flew more than 5,000 miles beyond the Moon. Their journey took them over a quarter million miles from Earth, setting a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from our planet.

The last people to see an Earthset were the Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972. That 54-year gap makes this moment especially meaningful for space exploration and everyone watching from home.

Why This Inspires

There's something deeply moving about watching our entire world reduced to a blue marble disappearing behind gray lunar rock. The video reminds us how small and precious our planet looks from deep space.

What makes this even more special is how Wiseman captured it. He used the same technology millions of people carry in their pockets every day, making this historic moment feel more accessible and real.

The footage doesn't just show technical achievement. It captures wonder, the kind that makes us remember why humans push boundaries and explore the unknown in the first place.

Wiseman was right to save the word "awesome" for this moment.