NASA has shared three striking photos captured on the iPhone 17 Pro Max by astronauts during the Artemis II mission to the Moon.
The images highlight both the capabilities of the iPhone’s advanced camera system and the unique perspective of astronauts operating in deep space. According to NASA, the photos were taken directly from the spacecraft during the mission, offering rare real-world results from Apple’s latest flagship device in an extreme environment.
The release continues NASA’s ongoing collaboration and experimentation with consumer-grade imaging technology in space, showing how modern smartphone cameras can perform even beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA has highlighted new imagery from the Artemis II mission, including photos reportedly captured using the iPhone 17 Pro Max by astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.
In February, NASA confirmed that the iPhone had been fully qualified for extended use in orbit. Each of the four Artemis II crew members is said to carry an iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal photography and video capture while in space.
Among the newly shared images are shots of Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch looking back at Earth through Orion’s cabin windows. According to Flickr metadata, these particular photos were taken on April 2—day two of the mission—using the iPhone 17 Pro Max front camera.
Other mission imagery has been captured using professional equipment such as the Nikon D5, Nikon Z 9, and GoPro HERO4 Black, showing a mix of consumer and dedicated space-grade imaging tools used throughout the mission.
Artemis II marks the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. The spacecraft is expected to pass behind the far side of the Moon, setting a new record for the greatest distance humans have traveled from Earth. However, the Orion capsule is not designed for landing and will instead return the crew to Earth, with splashdown currently planned for April 10.