NASA Astronauts Use Smartphones and Tablets During Artemis II Lunar Mission

The latest space technology includes iPhones and Microsoft Surface tablets for the Artemis II crew.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:19pm

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The crew members of the Artemis II mission, NASA's upcoming lunar flyby, will be equipped with the latest consumer technology during their spaceflight, including iPhones and Microsoft Surface tablets. This marks a shift from the more traditional space equipment used in previous missions, as NASA aims to provide astronauts with modern tools to capture and share their experiences.

Why it matters

The use of consumer electronics like smartphones and tablets in space missions represents a significant change in NASA's approach, challenging long-standing processes and qualifying modern hardware for spaceflight. This move aims to give astronauts better tools to document their journey and connect with the public, but it also raises questions about the potential impact of computational photography and the risk of crew members becoming distracted by familiar digital devices during a historic lunar mission.

The details

The Artemis II crew will be the first to fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman frames this as a cost-effective solution, as the estimated $2,000 cost of the modified iPhones is a fraction of the $90 billion Artemis program budget. The astronauts will also be using Microsoft Surface tablets for tasks such as private family conferences, medical consultations, office applications, and viewing imagery from their DSLR cameras.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled for launch in 2026.
  • The final space shuttle mission in 2011 involved an experiment that required an iPhone 4s.
  • Private space flights have previously used smartphones, but the Artemis II mission marks the first time iPhones will be used as standard equipment on a NASA lunar mission.

The players

Jared Isaacman

The current NASA Administrator, who has framed the use of consumer electronics in the Artemis II mission as a cost-effective solution that challenges long-standing processes and qualifies modern hardware for spaceflight.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who was photographed having an iPhone 17 Pro Max stuffed into his shin pocket while in his Orion Crew Survival System suit.

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What they’re saying

“We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world. Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

“I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of those are working. If you want to remote in and check Optimus and those two Outlooks, that would be awesome.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Mission Commander

What’s next

NASA plans to continue using the latest consumer electronics, including smartphones and tablets, on future Artemis missions and potentially other long-duration spaceflight programs.

The takeaway

The use of familiar consumer technology like iPhones and Microsoft Surface tablets by the Artemis II astronauts represents a shift in NASA's approach, balancing the need for cutting-edge tools with the potential risks of crew members becoming distracted by digital devices during a historic lunar mission. This move aims to improve the astronauts' ability to document and share their experiences, but it also raises questions about the impact of computational photography and the role of technology in the archetypal peak human experience of spaceflight.