NASA is now allowing astronauts to bring iPhones and other modern smartphones into space for the first time, ‚to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.‘<\/b>
\nIf you thought your latest batch of exotic vacation snaps were impressive, think again. Travel photographers are about to face some literally out-of-this-world competition.
NASA is now allowing astronauts to bring iPhones and other modern smartphones into space for the first time, \u201cto capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.\u201d Photographs have long been captured from space stations, and NASA has allowed astronauts to carry bulkier DSLR cameras since the early 1970s. But the move could give crews the ability to capture rare phenomena or unique visuals on the fly.
According to the newly appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the rule change will kick off with members of the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions, heading to the International Space Station and the Moon’s orbit, respectively. Isaacman said the agency was challenging \u201clong-standing processes\u201d and had \u201cqualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline.\u201d
\u201cThat operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface.\u201d
\u201cThis is a small step in the right direction,\u201d Isaacman added.
The decision could also give astronauts access to far more advanced photography technology. Ars Technica notes that the most modern camera previously approved for the Artemis II Moon mission was a 2016 Nikon DSLR, alongside decade-old GoPro cameras.
NASA did not specify which iPhone models will qualify for spaceflight. Equipment is typically required to undergo extensive testing before approval, to meet NASA’s complex requirements.
The news follows Isaacman\u2019s appointment as one of the only NASA administrators selected from outside government in the agency\u2019s history. The President Trump\u2013nominated billionaire faced criticism from Senator Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, over SpaceX\u2019s refusal to disclose how much it paid Isaacman for his flights as part of the Polaris space exploration program. Disclosures reported by CNBC said the deal may be worth over $50 million.<\/p>\n