NASA has shared a set of photos taken during the Artemis II mission, and they stand out for the device used to capture them.
According to NASA, astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft used an iPhone 17 Pro Max to capture images while in orbit. These weren’t test shots or controlled captures; they were taken as personal photos during the mission.
The photos were shot from orbit using the front camera
The images show Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch looking back at Earth through Orion’s cabin window.
What makes it more interesting is how they were captured. Metadata shows the photos were taken using the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s front camera on April 2, the mission’s second day of the mission.
This detail changes the perspective. These are not traditional space photography shots; they feel closer to everyday moments, just in a very different environment.
The iPhone was cleared for space use before the mission
Before the mission, NASA confirmed that the iPhone had been qualified for extended use in orbit.
Each crew member aboard Orion reportedly carried an iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal photos and videos. While professional cameras are still used for official captures, this adds a more casual layer to documenting space missions.
Professional cameras still handle most mission photography
Most of the mission’s imagery continues to come from professional-grade equipment such as the Nikon D5, Nikon Z9, and GoPro HERO4 Black. These systems are used for detailed and controlled captures throughout the mission.
The iPhone images sit alongside these, offering a more personal perspective focused on personal moments.
Artemis II marks a major step in human spaceflight
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission toward the Moon since 1972. The crew is expected to travel to the far side of the Moon, setting a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.
The Orion spacecraft will not land on the Moon and is scheduled to return to Earth on April 10.
A more personal way to document space
Using a smartphone during a mission like Artemis II changes how moments are recorded. The images feel closer to everyday documentation, showing what astronauts see and experience in real time.
Do iPhone-shot space photos make space feel more real to you? Let us know in the comments.
You can download original Artemis II wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
