iPhones Head to the Moon on NASA’s Next Astronaut Missions

NASA is modernizing its approach to technology by allowing astronauts to bring iPhones and other modern smartphones on upcoming space missions, including the Crew-12 flight to the International Space Station and the historic Artemis II voyage around the Moon.
Announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, this policy shift aims to empower crews to capture high-quality photos and video of their experiences to share with their families and the public, moving beyond the outdated cameras previously slated for use, like a 2016 Nikon DSLR.
More importantly, Isaacman framed the decision as a strategic challenge to NASA’s long-standing, often bloated qualification processes that have historically slowed the adoption of new technology in spaceflight, from radiation testing to battery safety protocols.
By expediting the approval of modern consumer hardware, NASA hopes to foster an “operational urgency” that will benefit future high-value science and exploration, marking a significant, if symbolic, step toward streamlining bureaucracy and equipping astronauts with the best available tools as they return to lunar exploration.