NASA Astronauts Can Now Bring Smartphones on Moon Missions

Prepare for some seriously cosmic selfies. For the first time, NASA astronauts will be permitted to take their personal smartphones into space, beginning with the upcoming Crew-12 and Artemis II missions.

Crew-12 is set to launch to the International Space Station next week, while Artemis II — the highly anticipated mission that will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era — is now scheduled for March.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman shared the reasoning behind the decision on X, explaining that crews are being equipped with tools to capture meaningful moments for their families while also sharing compelling photos and videos with the public.

With current-generation iPhones and Android devices cleared for flight, astronauts will gain more flexibility in documenting their experiences aboard spacecraft and in orbit. The move could result in some of NASA’s most personal and visually engaging mission coverage to date, giving people on Earth a closer look at daily life beyond our planet.

There’s also the lighter side of the change: the possibility of zero-gravity social media clips or ultra-wide space selfies floating around the cabin. While that idea may feel both amusing and slightly awkward, it highlights how much space travel is evolving. Notably, the approval process moved quickly — an uncommon pace for an agency typically associated with rigorous, time-intensive procedures.

Isaacman emphasized that NASA streamlined longstanding processes to fast-track modern hardware for flight, underscoring a renewed sense of operational urgency as the agency pushes forward with ambitious scientific and lunar exploration goals.

Historically, NASA has exercised extreme caution when introducing new technology into missions, and for good reason. Space is unforgiving, and even minor technical issues can escalate quickly. Until now, astronauts primarily relied on older Nikon DSLRs and GoPros for imaging. While those cameras remain reliable, smartphones bring a different dimension — spontaneity, accessibility, and a distinctly human perspective that traditional space equipment doesn’t always convey.