On March 6, NASA is scheduled to launch the Artemis II mission to the moon. And for the first time, it is allowing its crew members to take its smartphones with them, according to a recent announcement by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
While the iPhone wasn’t specifically addressed, Apple clarified to MacRumors that “this will mark the first time the iPhone has been fully qualified for extended use in orbit and beyond,” suggesting that at least one astronaut will be carrying an iPhone.
According to Ars Technica, the decision to allow smartphones is part of an effort to “challenge requirements to ensure they are still needed today.” NASA has a long history of stringent requirements for the technology it uses–the newest camera on board the Artemis II is a 2016 Nikon DSLR, reports Ars Technica. Having an iPhone on hand will allow the astronauts to capture moments at a whim.
The iPhone made its first space voyage in 2011 when two iPhone 4s were on the space shuttle, but they apparently were never used. Smartphones have been used by passengers on private space trips. The iPhone on Artemis II does bring up one major question: How does it appear on the Find My app? Will Find My show a map of the moon with an icon representing the iPhone? That would be cool.
