For a mission already being called historic, Artemis II has added an unexpected layer of relatability. Astronauts onboard the Orion spacecraft are carrying the iPhone 17 Pro Max into deep space. This

ace. This is the first time in over 50 years that humans have ventured this far from Earth on a lunar mission, and for the first time ever, a consumer smartphone is part of that journey. 

The phones are not there for communication or apps. Instead, they are being used to capture stunning images of the Moon and Earth - images that feel less like official space photography and more like something a human would naturally want to document. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that the idea was to let astronauts “capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.” ace. This is the first time in over 50 years that humans have ventured this far from Earth on a lunar mission, and for the first time ever, a consumer smartphone is part of that journey. 

The phones are not there for communication or apps. Instead, they are being used to capture stunning images of the Moon and Earth - images that feel less like official space photography and more like something a human would naturally want to document. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that the idea was to let astronauts “capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.”