A photographer who travels to the Moon has been rewarded with a new contract from the White House after capturing images that capture the essence of the place.
The images have become a part of the national memory and an iconic image of the country and have been used by the U.S. government since the 1950s.
The White House said on Wednesday the photographer is one of about 60 people employed by the National Science Foundation to travel to the space station and photograph the surface of the Moon.
The contract covers the duration of his stay and includes expenses for supplies and travel, the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy said.
It says he will be paid for the time he spends on the space program, including travel and accommodation.
It said the contract was awarded in May 2016.
In March, he spent three days on the Moon, a distance of more than 3,500 miles.
His images were released as part of a book about the mission.