tech
February 6, 2026
NASA will finally allow astronauts to bring their iPhones to space
We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments.

TL;DR
- NASA astronauts will be permitted to bring modern smartphones, including iPhones, into orbit starting with Crew-12 and Artemis II.
- The initiative aims to equip astronauts with better tools for capturing and sharing photos and videos from space.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is challenging existing processes to expedite the qualification of modern hardware for spaceflight.
- This decision simplifies the technology available to astronauts, replacing older cameras like a 2016 Nikon DSLR on the Artemis II mission.
- Smartphones have been on previous orbital missions and private spaceflights, but this marks a broader official allowance for NASA crews.
- The qualification process for spaceflight technology is complex, involving tests for radiation, thermal stability, vacuum, and more.
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