If 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 will allow 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.” Photographs have long been captured in space stations, and NASA has allowed astronauts to carry bulkier 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 newly appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the rule change will kick off with members of the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions, which are heading to the International Space Station and the Moon's orbit, respectively. Isaacman says the agency is challenging “long-standing processes” and has “qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline.”

“That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface," he says. “This is a small step in the right direction."

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.

By: DocMemory
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