Artemis II Astronauts Trained by Elite NY Tech School Alums to Capture Stunning Lunar Photos

Professionals from Rochester Institute of Technology taught the mission crew specialized photography skills to document the historic moon voyage.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:09pm

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A bold, abstract painting in muted earth tones depicting the Artemis II mission's journey around the Moon, with sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals representing the structural order of the universe.The stunning photographs captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their historic mission around the Moon will unlock new scientific insights and inspire future generations of space explorers.NYC Today

Professionals from an elite New York college, the Rochester Institute of Technology, specially trained the Artemis II astronauts to take the out-of-this-world photographs that captivated and educated the globe during their historic round-the-moon mission. RIT alums Katrina Willoughby and Paul Reichart were the flight operations imagery instructors, teaching two of the four Artemis II passengers how to snap critically important lunar surface photos using Nikon DSLR cameras.

Why it matters

The high-resolution photographs taken by the Artemis II crew during their 45-minute closest approach to the lunar surface are expected to provide valuable scientific data and inspire the next generation of space explorers. NASA emphasized the importance of the imagery, noting that "the photos you take share the awe and the grandeur" of space exploration.

The details

To prepare the astronauts, the RIT experts used a mock-up of the Orion spacecraft and a small, fake Moon to simulate the record-setting ride at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We hung a giant inflatable moon and hung it in the building and turned the lights out and we were taking real pictures," said Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover. After the rehearsals, Glover said he had a profound realization about the 45-minute stretch when Artemis II would be closest to the lunar surface, noting "Those moments may change what we know about the Moon, what we know about our Earth, what we know about the Solar System and the Universe."

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 2, 2026.
  • The astronauts completed their closest approach to the lunar surface on April 5, 2026.

The players

Katrina Willoughby

A 2004 graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology who served as a flight operations imagery instructor for the Artemis II mission, teaching astronauts how to capture scientifically important photographs.

Paul Reichart

A Rochester Institute of Technology alum who worked as a flight operations imagery instructor for the Artemis II mission, training astronauts on specialized photography techniques.

Victor Glover

One of the four Artemis II astronauts who received specialized photography training from the RIT experts, and had a profound realization about the importance of the lunar surface imagery.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who emphasized the creative and storytelling aspects of the high-resolution lunar photographs, hoping they would inspire the next generation of space explorers.

Nikon D5

The classic digital single-lens-reflex camera model selected by NASA for the Artemis II mission due to its proven track record as a workhorse space camera.

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What they’re saying

“Most people can use a camera and get a photo that is good enough, but good enough isn't what we're after scientifically. There are pictures we want to get, and then there are pictures that the team is depending on. The imagery is their data.”

— Katrina Willoughby, Flight Operations Imagery Instructor

“I walked out into the parking lot and it hit me while I was walking toward my car...Those moments may change what we know about the Moon, what we know about our Earth, what we know about the Solar System and the Universe.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Astronaut

“It's the creative side. It's telling a story. It's making sure that the photos you take share the awe and the grandeur. And focus on the little things that you may not expect. Some of my favorite pictures from space have been of things like cloud tops. Things you just had no idea were as beautiful from above as they are below.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to return to Earth on April 10, 2026, at which point the high-resolution lunar photographs will be analyzed by NASA scientists for their scientific and educational value.

The takeaway

The specialized photography training provided by elite RIT alumni to the Artemis II astronauts underscores NASA's commitment to capturing visually stunning and scientifically crucial imagery during this historic moon voyage. The resulting photographs are expected to not only advance our understanding of the lunar surface, but also inspire the next generation of space explorers.