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NASA Astronauts Take iPhones to Moon on Historic Artemis II Mission

NASA's Artemis II mission marks the first time astronauts are carrying personal iPhones into deep space. The decision, announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, aims to modernize equipment and allow crews to document their journey. The phones will function primarily as cameras, operating in Airplane mode to avoid interference with spacecraft systems. This historic mission is the first crewed flight to the Moon's vicinity in over 50 years.

Key Points: iPhones Go to Moon with NASA's Artemis II Astronauts

  • First personal smartphones on a deep space mission
  • Shift to modernize crew equipment
  • Devices to operate in Airplane mode
  • Will capture behind-the-scenes moments
  • Historic crewed lunar flyby after decades
2 min read

NASA astronauts carry iPhones to Moon for 1st time aboard Artemis II mission

NASA astronauts carry personal iPhones to the Moon for the first time on Artemis II to capture historic moments and modernize spaceflight equipment.

"We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world - Jared Isaacman"

New Delhi, April 2

NASA astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission are carrying their personal iPhones into deep space for the first time, a shift in how the US space agency equips its crews for human spaceflight beyond Earth's orbit.

The four-member crew -- Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen of the space agency -- lifted off aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, embarking on a historic 10-day journey to fly around the Moon and back.

The decision to allow personal smartphones was announced earlier this year by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman as part of a broader push to modernise crew equipment and streamline mission documentation.

The move allows astronauts to capture behind-the-scenes moments without relying on bulky, government-issued cameras.

"We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world," Isaacman wrote on X in February.

He added that qualifying modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline would serve NASA well in future lunar and orbital missions.

The devices will operate in Aeroplane mode throughout the deep space leg of the journey to prevent interference with spacecraft systems, effectively serving as high-end cameras. When the crew passes through the International Space Station, astronauts will be able to connect to the station's Wi-Fi to send photos and emails, though voice calls will not be possible.

The Artemis II mission is humanity's first crewed flight to the vicinity of the Moon in more than half a decade. During the lunar flyby, the crew will capture live imagery of the Moon's surface, observe features not previously visible to human eyes, and witness a partial solar eclipse from their vantage point in deep space.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Wow! The thought of taking a personal phone to the Moon is mind-blowing. Can't wait to see the behind-the-scenes photos and videos they capture. It will make space exploration feel more personal and relatable for us common people.
R
Rohit P
Good move by NASA to modernize. But I have a question - what about radiation hardening? Our regular phones aren't built for deep space. Hope they have special protective cases or modifications. Safety first!
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Sarah B
As an expat living in Bangalore, this news is exciting! The tech crossover is amazing. I wonder if they'll use any Indian-made apps? The space selfies from lunar orbit are going to be epic! 📱🌕
V
Vikram M
While this is cool, part of me feels it's a bit of a publicity stunt. NASA has brilliant engineers; surely they could design a compact, purpose-built camera. Using consumer electronics feels like cutting corners. Still, wishing the crew a safe journey!
K
Kavya N
Imagine the family WhatsApp group updates from space! "Just flying past the Moon, will call when I get Wi-Fi at the ISS." 😂 Jokes aside, this humanizes the mission. Can't wait to see the content.

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