The first photos from the iPhone 17 Pro Max units that are part of Artemis II, NASA’s mission to the Moon, have just reached us. And it is, at the very least, curious to know that the same phone we use to take photos every day has gone around the Moon and, from there too, has taken top-level pictures. This has been its journey.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is already travelling with the Artemis II astronauts
In February, NASA confirmed that the iPhone had been fully qualified for prolonged use in orbit. It then decided that each of the four Artemis II crew members would carry an iPhone 17 Pro Max on board for their personal photos and videos. They cannot connect to the internet or use Bluetooth, but even so, this is a very important step.
And although this is not the first time an iPhone has taken part in a space mission, it is the first time an iPhone has received this full validation for a mission of this level after a demanding technical approval process (one in which Apple was not involved). A process whose basic aim is to protect both the crew and the spacecraft.
These are the first iPhone photos from Orion
NASA has already published three images taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max during the mission’s second day, on 2 April. In them, we see commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch looking towards Earth through one of the main windows of the Orion capsule.
They were captured with the iPhone’s front-facing camera. In other words, with a lens that we usually associate with video calls, selfies, and quick everyday moments.
Until now, most of the images shown by the mission had come from other, more specialised cameras, such as Nikon and GoPro. That is why these photos stand out so much. Because they tell us that the same devices we carry around in our pockets without a second thought are capable of going all the way to the Moon and bringing back spectacular images.
An iPhone on this mission brings the Moon closer to our everyday lives
Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972, so its importance is enormous. The spacecraft will go around our satellite and return to Earth on 10 April. During that journey, the crew will also reach a historic distance for a human spaceflight.
And among all the major headlines surrounding the mission, these iPhone photos have a special charm. Because they connect us to the journey in an immediate, simple, and close way. And, on top of that, they show that Apple is still present in the moments that push the limits of technology even further.
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