iPhone Became NASA’s Official Equipment For The First Time
Credit: NASA
NASA officially approved the use of Apple smartphones for the first time. This was during the Artemis II program, where astronauts received iPhones before launch, during the pre-flight quarantine period.
Previously, smartphones were allowed into space, but they weren’t part of the official equipment. Now, however, the devices have passed all certification stages and are approved for use onboard the spacecraft.
However, iPhone functionality is limited. The devices don’t connect to onboard systems and don’t have internet access. Their primary purpose is to take photos and videos. Astronauts use smartphones to record what’s happening inside the capsule and capture views from the window.
Interestingly, iPhones have become the most advanced filming equipment onboard. In addition, the crew uses Nikon D5 DSLRs and GoPro Hero 11 action cameras. But smartphones have proven to be the most technologically advanced.
NASA proposed securing smartphones in flight using Velcro, as is commonly used with other small items. During the experimental phase, one iPhone was placed in a zippered pocket on the leg of a flight suit. According to Apple representatives, the company’s specialists collaborated with NASA during these discussions. It was during Artemis II that Apple smartphones were fully approved for long-term use in spaceflight to and beyond Earth orbit. Participants in private space missions had carried smartphones before, beginning in 2011.
