NASA Allows iPhones on Artemis Moon Mission: Which iPhone Could Fly and Why Smartphones Are Now Being Allowed

NASA has confirmed that astronauts on upcoming missions will be allowed to carry modern smartphones, including iPhones, into orbit and on the Artemis II lunar flyby, marking a notable shift in long-standing spaceflight rules.

The decision, announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, opens the door to more spontaneous photography and video from space and signals a broader effort to modernise the agency's technology approval process. The move has also sparked public curiosity about which iPhone model could ultimately be cleared to fly and why the change is happening now.

NASA Confirms Policy Shift on Smartphones for Artemis Astronauts

Isaacman said astronauts will be permitted to fly with 'the latest smartphones', beginning with Crew-12 missions to the International Space Station and extending to Artemis II, the first crewed flight around the Moon in more than 50 years.

NASA has traditionally limited the use of personal consumer devices on government missions, favouring hardware that has undergone lengthy qualification for radiation, vibration and vacuum conditions.

Allowing smartphones represents a departure from that approach and reflects a willingness to adapt policies to current technology. NASA officials say the aim is to equip crews with tools that can capture moments for families and the public while still meeting safety and mission requirements.

Why Smartphones Are Being Allowed Now

The policy change is part of a wider push by NASA leadership to challenge what Isaacman has described as outdated processes that slow the adoption of modern hardware. Qualifying consumer technology for spaceflight can take years, with extensive testing of components, batteries and materials.

By accelerating the approval of devices already widely used on Earth, NASA hopes to reduce 'requirement bloat' and speed up the introduction of tools that can support science, operations and public engagement. Smartphones offer high-quality cameras, reliable video recording and intuitive interfaces that can be useful during experiments or when crews observe transient events outside spacecraft windows.

Which iPhone Could Fly and What Must Be Approved

NASA has not publicly named a specific iPhone model for Artemis missions. Any smartphone approved for spaceflight must pass a series of safety and performance checks, including radiation characterisation of chips, battery thermal behaviour, vibration testing and assessments of materials out-gassing in vacuum.

Modern iPhones change annually, which has historically made them difficult to qualify for long-duration missions. The new approach suggests NASA is willing to assess contemporary models on an expedited timeline, though final approvals are expected to follow established safety protocols. Until an official selection is announced, questions over which iPhone could fly remain open.

How This Compares With Past Spaceflight Technology

For previous missions, astronauts relied on ageing camera systems. Before the latest policy shift, the newest camera planned for Artemis II was reported to be a DSLR model first released in 2016, alongside older action cameras. While those devices are reliable, they lack many of the features now standard on modern smartphones, such as advanced stabilisation and low-light performance.

Smartphones have flown to orbit before on limited occasions, including early iPhone models carried on late Space Shuttle missions. As reported by Collect Space, an iPhone 4 was flown to the International Space Station aboard the final Space Shuttle mission in 2011 as part of an experimental research programme.

However, government-led missions to the space station have largely favoured tablets and dedicated equipment rather than personal phones.

What This Means for Artemis II and Future Moon Missions

Artemis II will send four astronauts around the Moon on a multi-day mission, testing systems ahead of planned lunar landings later in the decade. The inclusion of smartphones could change how the mission is documented, with crews able to capture informal images and video alongside official NASA photography.

The policy also hints at a cultural shift within NASA towards faster adoption of commercial technology. If smartphones prove practical and safe on Artemis II, similar approaches could extend to future lunar surface missions and long-duration flights, shaping how crews communicate, document their experiences and share life in deep space with audiences on Earth.