NASA's Orion capsule reached the moon on Monday. It is the first time a space capsule has visited the Moon since NASA's Apollo program 50 years ago and represents a massive milestone in the €4 billion test flight that began last Wednesday.
The capsule's cameras sent back a picture of the world – a small blue orb surrounded by darkness.
"Our pale blue dot and its 8 billion human inhabitants are now emerging," said Mission Control commentator Sandra Jones.
The capsule accelerated well beyond 8,000 km/h after regaining radio contact, NASA said. Less than an hour later, Orion soared over the Serenity base where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on July 20, 1969.
"This is one of those days you've been thinking about and talking about for a long time," said flight director Zeb Scoville.