iPhones hitch a ride to the Moon
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: Astronauts aboard Artemis II are carrying personal iPhones into deep space for the first time, marking a shift in how NASA equips crews for missions beyond Earth orbit.
The four-member crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, lifted off aboard the Orion spacecraft on a 10-day mission to loop around the Moon and return. The decision, announced earlier this year by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, is part of efforts to modernise crew equipment and improve mission documentation. The smartphones will allow astronauts to capture behind-the-scenes images and videos without relying on bulky, government-issued cameras.
The devices will remain in airplane mode during deep space travel to avoid interference with onboard systems, effectively functioning as high-end cameras. While passing near the International Space Station, astronauts can connect to Wi-Fi to send images and emails, though voice calls will not be possible.
