Visual cues point to a three-camera iPhone 17 Pro in a silver finish, with speculation that the black circle on the side may be a Velcro attachment rather than a hidden camera.

NASA has approved the use of iPhones for Artemis II, marking the first time an iPhone is fully qualified for extended orbital use and beyond, continuing a thread that began with earlier space flights and experiments in 2011.

Historically, iPhones have been used in space before, including the 2011 shuttle mission and the 2021 Inspiration4 mission for Earth photography, with later missions featuring iPhone 17 Pro models on the Orion spacecraft.

The Artemis II crew will each have an iPhone 17 Pro Max for in-capsule photos and videos, with no internet or Bluetooth connectivity, emphasizing documentation rather than communication capabilities.

In microgravity, mounting strategies and camera operation had to be designed to function without gravity, using methods like Velcro or pocket placement to keep devices secure and safe.

The approval process was rigorous and multi-phase, including hardware checks, safety-panel review, hazard assessment, mitigation planning, and validation before flight.

NASA’s safety review for this hardware unfolds in four phases: introduce to a safety panel, identify hazards (like moving parts and glass), develop mitigations, and demonstrate effectiveness prior to launch.

Photography goals are highlighted by imagery captured with a Nikon D5 during the mission, underscoring a diversified visual package alongside iPhone use.

NASA and related outlets plan to share crew-generated imagery through galleries and official posts, maintaining ongoing public updates about Artemis II visuals.

Apple has not publicly commented on Artemis II; the coverage frames Apple’s broader role in space technology collaboration and telecom readiness, while noting the company’s non-involvement in NASA’s approval process.

NASA’s hardware approvals are historically slow, with Artemis II featuring older cameras such as a Nikon DSLR and decadal GoPros alongside the iPhones.

The iPhones are intended for mission documentation, not operational control, with restrictions including no internet or Bluetooth while in space.