Why Artemis II astronauts are carrying iPhones to Moon

WorldTechnology
2 Apr 2026 • 5:43 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • The Artemis II mission marks the first occasion astronauts are permitted to take personal smartphones beyond Earth's orbit.
  • Crew members have brought iPhones with them to document the mission using their cameras, aiming to avoid bulky, government-issued equipment.
  • The devices will be set to Airplane mode by the crew to prevent any potential interference with the spacecraft's systems.
  • NASA chief Jared Isaacman stated that this initiative empowers crews to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and videos with the world.
  • Isaacman also noted that this move challenged long-standing processes and expedited the qualification of modern hardware for spaceflight, which will benefit NASA's future scientific and research pursuits.

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