The spacesuits worn by the Artemis II crew during their moon mission have a feature completely new to space missions – an iPhone. Each has a pocket containing an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone had to pass a whole bank of safety tests in order to be approved for the mission – but that preparation was totally worthwhile …
This year is the first time that smartphones have been approved for extended use during a space mission. Factors considered included everything from the potential hazard of a small loose object drifting around the cabin to the risks involved in a potential broken screen.
We recently learned about some of the work that went into gaining approval to carry four iPhone 17 Pro Max models. We even got to see one of these being zipped into a spacesuit pocket during launch preparation, as well as a clip of one being passed between astronauts.
Cameras have been carried aboard spacecraft from the very first crewed missions – first medium format models and then professional DSLRs like the Nikon D5. These pro cameras have enabled some spectacularly high quality photographs, and nobody is suggesting that iPhones should replace them.
As supplementary cameras, however, the small size of the devices has enabled them to be used to provide some unique perspectives – including selfies.
That’s obviously a lot of fun, really helping bring the missions to life for those of us left behind on Earth.
But the ability to take selfies in space actually plays a more valuable role than just bringing a smile to our faces. There’s something about the familiarity of the format and the use of a device many people carry every day in their pockets that makes the Artemis mission seem somehow accessible. It humanizes the voyage in a way that more formal photography doesn’t.
Indeed, one of the photos taken on the iPhone was a behind-the-scenes shot of astronaut Jeremy Hansen using the Nikon D5 to take a more formal one (top photo).
If people feel more engaged in this mission, that will boost public support for the ones that follow. At a time when various politicians have been questioning NASA’s budget, public support for future crewed space missions plays a vital role in ensuring that politicians provide the funding required.
Shot on iPhone on Artemis photos could literally be worth billions to NASA.
Photos: NASA
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