NASA has announced a major shift in its policy that will allow astronauts to carry their personal modern smartphones to space. Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed Thursday that this will begin with Crew-12 and Artemis II Moon missions which are slated to launch in February and March, respectively. This relaxation, that challenges long-standing processes about consumer electronics in space, is intended to enable spontaneous photography and connecting fliers with their families.
NASA astronauts will soon fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II. We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world. Just as important, we challenged long-standing…
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 5, 2026
“We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world,” Isaacman posted on X. “Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline. That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface.”
Isaacman calls it “a small step in the right direction,” given that he has experience of visiting space with his iPhone on the private Inspiration4 mission in 2021.
NASA’s change of stance on smartphones in orbit
Until now, astronauts in space rely on DSLR or GoPro cameras to take photos and videos in orbit. Smartphones are rarely allowed because they need to be flight approved due to concerns around radiation damage, battery safety or materials releasing gases in vacuum.
But NASA seems to have softened its stance on modern-day phones in space and approved them on an expedited timeline rather than waiting years on the slow, bureaucratic testing and certification of devices.
Apart from the administrator, astronauts on private Axiom missions to the International Space Station (ISS) have also flown with smartphones. According to Ars Technica, crew members of the final space shuttle mission in 2011 also launched with two iPhone 4s, but the extent of their usage is not known.
Members of Crew-12 and Artemis II, however, will have plenty of subjects to document on their space trips. The former is slated to launch on February 11 whereas NASA is targeting March 6 for the latter’s launch. The Moon-bound fliers on Artemis II might be the first to get a peek at the Moon’s far side and with access to smartphones, they can take high-quality photos and videos from multiple vantage points at the same time. Smartphones will also inspire public outreach as the astronauts can post easily on social media, boosting engagement and educating their followers.
ALSO READ: NASA’s Artemis II To Carry Relic Of Humanity’s First Flight And More To The Moon
ALSO READ: NASA Delays Artemis II Moon Mission Launch To March – Here’s Why
