NASA Astronauts Capture Stunning Earth Images with iPhone During Artemis II Moon Mission

The crew used iPhone 17 Pro Max devices to document the historic journey.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:53pm

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, depicting the Artemis II spacecraft orbiting the Earth and Moon. The composition features sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise orbital spirals in soft, flat colors against a clean background, conveying the structural order of the universe.The Artemis II spacecraft captures the Earth and Moon in stunning detail from lunar orbit, showcasing the rapid advancement of mobile camera technology.Houston Today

Four NASA astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission to the Moon have captured breathtaking images of Earth using iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones. This marks the first time consumer-grade smartphones have been used to photograph our planet from lunar orbit.

Why it matters

The ability to capture high-quality images with commercially available devices underscores the rapid advancement of mobile camera technology. These photos provide a unique perspective on Earth and offer the public a more intimate view of the Artemis II mission.

The details

NASA has confirmed that several recently published photographs from the Artemis II mission were captured using iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones. Each of the four astronauts participating in the mission was equipped with a silver iPhone 17 Pro Max in their suits, in addition to GoPro and Nikon professional cameras.

  • The Artemis II crew launched on their historic mission in April 2026.
  • The astronauts began capturing Earth images using their iPhones shortly after entering lunar orbit.

The players

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis II moon mission.

Artemis II Crew

The four astronauts participating in the Artemis II mission to the Moon, who used iPhone 17 Pro Max devices to capture stunning images of Earth.

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What they’re saying

“I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working.”

— Reid Wiseman, Mission Commander

“It's an issue with dumping the waste out of the toilet. And so it appears to me that we probably have some frozen urine in the vent line.”

— Judd Frieling, Artemis II Flight Director

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to reach the Moon on Monday, where they will photograph the lunar far side before beginning their journey back to Earth.

The takeaway

The use of consumer-grade iPhones to capture stunning images of Earth from lunar orbit showcases the rapid advancement of mobile camera technology and provides the public with a more intimate view of the historic Artemis II mission.