Currently watching NASA’s Artemis II, takes me back to the Apollo Missions and the Sputnik and Telstar missions. 
NASA’s Artemis II
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Can anyone tell me why there are no stars ?
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Wow just seeing a crescent Earth
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Uncanny isn’t it 
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The cameras’ exposure likely has to be set too low to be able to capture the stars (due to sunlight, etc.). Exposure is the amount of light allowed into the camera sensor. For instance, you can clearly capture the Milky Way with a long exposure photograph, but not a short one.
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I have often wondered, not just on this mission but on other space missions where the cameras are pointing out into dark space. You would think there would be some starlight at least from the brightest stars. When I was in the outback in Australia with no light pollution the night skies were amazing.
Another great achievement for NASA & the USA.
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I worked in the same branch as the image specialists (folks who monitored images for any anomalies). I’m retired now, but will ask my former branch chief if he has any insight into the stars question. I calculated the risks of bird strikes and space debris (among a few other off nominal events). I always get a little nervous during launches.
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Too cool! I was wondering what you’re thinking about this mission, how it excites you, etc.
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Definitely exciting, but everyone is just a part of thousands and thousands of important contributions. Sort of like playing backup in a band of thousands, but missing a note could still cause the sound system to shut down completely. 
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Hi @BanjoBen Growing up in the fifties and sixties the news was full of space missions both Russian & US. Public interest back then was massive. Worldwide coverage. I watched the moon landings on black & white TV. Crowds of folks without TVs would gather outside rental shops to watch the live broadcasts on the display TVs in shop windows
Watching this mission has me exited because I have always been curious about the dark side. I guess I am not alone. I look forward to seeing the images the crew took with their special cameras.
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Okay, I got the feedback from the imagery folks at NASA. Michael pegged it—it’s the exposure setting that causes the stars to dim. Viewing stars has nothing to do with the mission, so it’s an easy trade off to make.
Also, @Archie, I viewed the landing in ‘69 from Okinawa—I believe it was the first satellite broadcast (it was definitely the first one I saw). Normally we had to wait for tape to be shipped across the Pacific, but that landing was broadcast live. Very fuzzy, but cool all the same.
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