On March 6, NASA is scheduled to launch the Artemis II mission to the moon. And according to a recent announcement by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, it’s allowing crew members to take their smartphones with them for the first time.
While the iPhone wasn’t specifically addressed, Apple MacRumors clarified that “this will be the first time an iPhone is fully qualified for extended use in and out of orbit,” suggesting that at least one astronaut will have an iPhone.
According to Ars Technica, the decision to allow smartphones is part of an effort to “challenge the requirements to ensure they are still needed today.” NASA has a long history of strict requirements for the technology it uses — the latest camera on board Artemis II is a 2016 Nikon DSLR, Ars Technica reports. Having an iPhone handy will allow astronauts to capture moments on a whim.
The iPhone made its first space journey in 2011, when two iPhone 4s were on the space shuttle, but apparently never used. Smartphones were used by passengers on private space trips. The iPhone on Artemis II brings up one crucial question: How does it show up in the Find It app? Will Find My show a map of the moon with an iPhone icon? That would be cool.