NASA will soon allow astronauts to fly with the latest smartphones on select missions. The change begins with SpaceX Crew-12 and continues with the Artemis II mission over the next few months. The move marks a clear shift in how astronauts document life in orbit and beyond.
On Wednesday, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the decision. He said astronauts will be permitted to carry modern smartphones during missions, a step that had not been allowed before. Until now, NASA restricted personal devices in space and approved only limited equipment, such as DSLR cameras.
In a separate statement, an Apple spokesperson confirmed the significance of the update. The spokesperson said this will be “the first time the iPhone has been fully qualified for extended use in orbit and beyond.” That approval means the device meets NASA’s strict safety and performance standards for long missions.
Isaacman explained why the change matters. He said smartphones will let astronauts “capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.” The added flexibility also simplifies how crews record daily life and major milestones in space.
NASA has not confirmed which iPhone models passed qualification. Even so, the decision signals growing trust in consumer technology for spaceflight. As missions expand deeper into space, astronauts will now carry tools they already use on Earth, this time among the stars.
