Astronauts aboard Artemis II have shared some spectacular images from space and the source came as a surprise to viewers on social media.
NASA shared three photos from astronauts aboard the mission, all of which were shot by an iPhone.
The pictures, shared during mission preparations, were taken using Apple’s latest iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The images include detailed shots of the lunar surface and Earth from orbit, have drawn attention not only for their clarity, but also for the device used to capture them.
According to MacRumors, NASA astronauts have been testing the iPhone 17 Pro Max as part of their workflow for Artemis II.
What to Know
The iPhone 17 Pro Max underwent testing and evaluation before being cleared for use aboard Artemis II, according to 9to5Mac.
Engineers assessed its durability, performance in microgravity and ability to function under radiation exposure and extreme temperatures.
The device was modified with protective casing and software adjustments to meet NASA’s safety and operational standards. The core hardware—including its advanced camera system—remained largely unchanged.
The resulting images showed the phone’s ability to capture high-resolution detail in challenging lighting conditions, including the stark contrasts of lunar terrain and the darkness of space.
What People Are Saying
Contributors to Reddit’s r/Apple forum had plenty of thoughts.
An individual quipped: “What would be the location metadata?”
Another person responded, “You jest, but I looked it up to reply to your comment and it looks like there is some signal on the Moon and beyond.
“Not sure if a phone would pick it up, or what it would do with that data as the photos app probably assumes you’re on Earth.”
Multiple pundits pointed out that the photos were a great advertisement for Apple.
“Advertising opportunity of a lifetime,” one commentator remarked, “Smart on whoever worked to get this done.”
In the wave of Microsoft Outlook’s issues, one critic pointed out that Apple is, “obviously doing better than Microsoft is. I’m sure the Outlook team has been chewed out bad.”
Finally, the photos made one individual think existentially.
“These Earth pictures, though… damn… We’re all freaking dust particles, man.”
Artemis Coverage Takes Off
Photos from Artemis II have fascinated viewers online, as Newsweek has covered.
NASA released a number of photos from the Artemis which showed the Moon and Earth from high above, as well as some behind-the-scenes images from inside the spacecraft.
The agency also shared images from Artemis at the halfway point of its journey.
Finally, NASA astronaut Victor Glover shared a touching message as Artemis prepared for a scheduled blackout.
“As we get close to the nearest point to the Moon and farthest point from Earth, as we continue to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, I would like to remind you of one of the most important mysteries there on Earth, and that’s love,” Glover said.
Newsweek has reached out to Apple and NASA for comment via email.
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