Apple’s iPhone is accompanying NASA’s 10-day Artemis II Moon orbit mission, serving as personal tools for the astronauts rather than official spacecraft equipment.
NASA recently launched four astronauts on a 10-day mission to conduct a flyby of the Moon for equipment testing. This mission marks the first time iPhones have been fully qualified for extended use in orbit and beyond.
The iPhones are securely placed in the astronauts’ suits and are not allowed to transmit signals to the ground independently. Instead, they use the spacecraft’s communication systems to send and receive data. While some may wonder about 5G and Wi-Fi capabilities, these technologies are not yet powerful enough to reach Earth from the Moon.
During the mission, astronauts will use their iPhones to capture photos and videos, connecting to the spacecraft’s Wi-Fi network to transmit content back to Earth. These devices will not be used for mission-critical operations, as NASA’s traditional avionics and communication systems handle essential functions.
The Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration, venturing beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in over fifty years. The crew is expected to set a distance record by surpassing Apollo 13’s furthest point from Earth.
While specific iPhone models onboard have not been disclosed, videos shared from the mission show what appears to be an iPhone 17 Pro Max in use. Prior to this mission, NASA astronauts were not permitted to carry personal smartphones, highlighting a shift in policy to embrace modern technology for space exploration.
