NASA Astronauts Can Bring Smartphones to Space Now

NASA astronauts are now permitted to bring their smartphones into space, a historic first for the agency. The announcement, made by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, applies to the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions, giving astronauts the tools to capture personal moments and share inspiring images with the world once processed.

The Crew-12 mission, which launched on February 13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, includes astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, headed to the International Space Station for a scientific exploration mission. Artemis II, set for no earlier than March, will be NASA’s first lunar flyby in 50 years, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen onboard.

While astronauts can now take more personalized photos, they cannot send them directly due to the absence of internet or cellular service in space. Photos must be uploaded to spacecraft devices and transmitted to NASA via satellite for decoding and public sharing. Previously, crews relied on more cumbersome digital cameras, making this policy shift a significant operational and cultural change for NASA.

Isaacman described the move as a step in breaking old norms, allowing crews to use modern hardware on an expedited timeline while pursuing high-value research both in orbit and on the lunar surface. This policy not only enhances the personal experience of astronauts but also provides the public with unique insights into life beyond Earth through social media and official NASA channels.