NASA has approved a rule change permitting astronauts to bring smartphones into space for the first time, starting with the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station next week and the Artemis II mission rescheduled for March. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced the decision to enable crews to capture moments for families and share images and video with the public.
The Crew-12 mission launches to the International Space Station next week, marking the initial application of the new policy. Astronauts on this mission will carry personal smartphones aboard the spacecraft. The Artemis II mission, delayed until March, represents the first crewed lunar fly-by since the 1960s. This mission will send humans around the moon, allowing participants to utilize smartphones during the journey.
Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, detailed the policy change in a post on X. He stated, “We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.” This allowance introduces the newest iPhones and Android devices to spaceflight operations.
These smartphones facilitate more spontaneous image and video gathering compared to prior equipment. Previously, missions relied on decade-old Nikon DSLR cameras and GoPro devices, as reported by Ars Technica. The integration of modern smartphones shifts toward a more flexible approach to documentation in space.
Isaacman emphasized the procedural advancements behind the approval. He wrote, “Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline.” He added, “That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface.”
Approval of new technology for space missions involves rigorous evaluation due to the potential consequences of malfunctions during flight. A single deviation can jeopardize the entire operation. The expedited qualification process for smartphones demonstrates NASA’s adaptation of certification methods to incorporate contemporary hardware efficiently.
Smartphones provide capabilities beyond those of the Nikon DSLRs and GoPros used previously. Their design supports immediate use without extensive setup, aligning with the demands of dynamic environments in orbit and beyond. This policy applies uniformly to both the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions.
