The iPhone has found its way to space and is floating freely in zero-gravity environment aboard the Orion spacecraft during NASA's Artemis II spaceflight mission. Pictures and videos courtesy of NASA were reported by several media outlets and shared widely across social media. The pictures show astronauts on the lunar flyby mission reportedly using an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max after NASA has permitted the space crew to carry the latest smartphones and/or tablets in space missions.
It was already known that the Artemis II crew had taken iPhones with them. Now, pictures and a video have surfaced from the mission, purportedly showing the astronauts using an iPhone. NASA's website shows at least a couple of selfies of Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch looking at the Earth from the window of the Orion spacecraft while travelling towards the Moon.
Reid Wiseman himself shared a picture on X looking back at Earth while the spacecraft zooms towards the Moon. Several reports indicate the device used for snapping these selfies was an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
A video shared widely on social media further shows the purported iPhone 17 Pro Max being passed from one astronaut to another. In between the change of hands, it floats freely in zero-gravity inside the spacecraft.
Artemis II crew is only the second group of astronauts allowed to carry their personal phones into space under a new policy, following the February launch of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission. NASA had then updated its guidelines for personal items that crew members can bring on missions.
According to a NASA spokesperson, the new rules were introduced to help astronauts more easily capture their experiences and moments in space and share with their families and other people on Earth.
NASA reportedly tested the iPhone thoroughly before approving it for use on the spacecraft. These tests ensured the device was safe for the space environment and included checks for potential risks, such as broken glass, along with appropriate safety measures to address them.
Also read: iPhone 17 Price Drops To Rs 45,000 In Croma Apple Sale: How To Unlock Offer?
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