Why NASA's Artemis-II astronauts are carrying iPhone to the Moon

Astronauts are now carrying iPhones into deep space, albeit in airplane mode, as part of a shift in how missions are documented. During the historic 10-day Artemis II mission, which will send a crew around the Moon and back, astronauts were seen packing their personal iPhones for the journey. This marks the first time NASA has permitted crew members to take personal smartphones beyond Earth’s orbit.

The space agency approved the move ahead of launch, with its team placing the devices inside the astronauts’ suits before liftoff. The four-member crew began their mission aboard the Space Launch System, which was sent into space from the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday. The decision reflects a broader change in NASA’s approach, allowing astronauts to use familiar, consumer-grade devices during missions.

The initiative was introduced earlier this year by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who cleared astronauts to carry smartphones to make documenting missions simpler and more personal.

Explaining the move in a post on X in February, he said, “We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world. Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline. That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface.”

Despite being allowed onboard, the iPhones will remain in airplane mode throughout the mission to avoid interfering with spacecraft systems. As a result, they will primarily function as advanced cameras, enabling astronauts to capture behind-the-scenes visuals.

On missions to the International Space Station, astronauts can connect such devices to onboard Wi-Fi to send emails and images back to Earth, though voice calls remain off-limits.

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over five decades, will not involve a Moon landing but is intended to test key systems and lay the groundwork for future missions that aim to return humans to the lunar surface.

The inclusion of iPhones highlights NASA’s effort to make space exploration more accessible and relatable. By equipping astronauts with widely used devices, the agency hopes to capture more immediate and personal perspectives from space. At the same time, officials stress that safety remains the top priority, with all devices operating independently under strict safeguards.