NASA Permits Astronauts to Bring iPhones on Artemis 2 Lunar Mission

The upcoming Artemis 2 lunar mission will mark a significant shift in NASA's operational procedures, as astronauts will be permitted to carry modern smartphones, including iPhones, during their journey around the Moon. This development represents a departure from the agency's longstanding regulations regarding personal electronic devices on board spacecraft.

For decades, NASA has maintained strict controls over the types of technology allowed on its missions. Devices needed to pass extensive safety and reliability tests, including assessments for radiation tolerance, battery performance in extreme temperatures and vacuum, resistance to vibrations, and checks for hazardous gas emissions. As a result, astronauts have traditionally relied on older, rigorously certified cameras and equipment. Recently, this meant using digital SLR cameras from 2016 and action cameras like GoPros for photography and documentation purposes on space missions.

The decision to allow contemporary smartphones aboard Orion, the spacecraft set for Artemis 2, reflects ongoing efforts to modernize NASA's approach. According to the agency, enabling astronauts to carry smartphones not only enhances their ability to document personal and scientific moments but also streamlines onboard processes. The functionality of current smartphones--offering high-resolution cameras, advanced video capabilities, and multiple integrated apps--provides astronauts with greater flexibility in capturing spontaneous events during their mission.

NASA's leadership has emphasized that this policy update is part of a broader strategy to re-evaluate established protocols and accelerate the adoption of modern hardware for spaceflight. By relaxing certain long-standing requirements, the agency aims to foster operational agility and support advanced research and documentation while ensuring mission safety remains a priority. The new framework is expected to benefit scientific investigations conducted in orbit and on the lunar surface by enabling more immediate and versatile data collection tools.

While the integration of consumer-grade electronics into space missions is not entirely unprecedented, it has primarily been associated with private or commercial flights. In the past, earlier versions of smartphones and tablets were briefly used on the International Space Station (ISS) and during private missions, where regulatory constraints were less stringent than those of NASA's official programs. Notably, two iPhone 4s devices were taken aboard the final Space Shuttle mission in 2011, and astronauts on the ISS have used tablets for communication and accessing the internet. Private ventures, such as the Polaris Dawn flight and Axiom missions, have also provided opportunities for crew members to use personal mobile devices in space.

NASA's updated policy now brings its missions in line with these practices, allowing astronauts to capture images and videos with their smartphones for both personal and public sharing. The change is expected to enrich the visual and experiential record of the Artemis 2 mission, as astronauts will have more opportunities to document scientific experiments, unique phenomena observed through the spacecraft's windows, and personal milestones. The agency anticipates that this move will also help inspire broader public interest in space exploration through the sharing of authentic, in-moment content from the lunar mission.

Overall, this policy adjustment for Artemis 2 is viewed as a progressive step towards integrating modern consumer technology into NASA's operational framework, supporting both the professional and personal needs of astronauts as they embark on new frontiers in human spaceflight.