Image Courtesy: NASA
Astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to capture images during the recent Artemis II mission, including selfies showing Earth in the background. The mission marked a return to crewed lunar exploration, and the images represent one of the first documented uses of a consumer smartphone for personal photography in deep space.
The Artemis II mission was the first time humans traveled around the Moon since 1972, reaching the far side before returning safely to Earth. Prior to launch, NASA had qualified the iPhone for extended orbital use, equipping the crew members with devices for capturing photos and videos during the journey, according to MacRumors.
Images released from the mission show Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch photographing themselves inside the Orion capsule, with Earth visible through the spacecraft’s windows. Metadata indicates that some of these images were taken on April 2, the second day of the mission, using the phone’s front-facing camera.
While the iPhone images drew public attention, most of the mission’s official photography was captured using dedicated equipment, including the Nikon D5, Nikon Z 9, and GoPro HERO4 Black. These cameras were used for higher-resolution imagery of Earth, the Moon, and spacecraft operations.
Following the crew’s return, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, and marketing executive Greg Joswiak publicly acknowledged the astronauts’ work. In separate social media posts, both highlighted the role of the iPhone in documenting the mission and congratulated the crew on their successful flight.
Artemis II also set a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans. The Orion spacecraft, however, is not designed for landing, making the mission a flyby rather than a lunar surface operation. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon in the coming years.
The inclusion of a commercially available smartphone alongside specialized imaging equipment reflects a broader trend of integrating consumer technology into space missions, particularly for informal documentation and outreach. The images captured during Artemis II have since been shared publicly, offering a perspective that combines professional space imaging with more accessible, personal viewpoints.
