NASA's Artemis II and Crew-12 astronauts will be first to carry latest smartphones to space

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on February 4 that the astronauts of the upcoming Artemis II and Crew-12 missions will carry the latest smartphones to space. "NASA astronauts will soon fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II," he wrote on X. This news would certainly be welcome by space enthusiasts and, most importantly, by the friends and families of astronauts, who often have to contend with the absence of their loved ones for months on end. On this, Isaacman stated, “We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world."

By introducing modern mobile devices to the confines of the International Space Station and the Artemis II Orion capsule, NASA has broken free from norms that have existed for quite a long time. "Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline. That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface," he said. Prior to this, a 2016 Nikon DSLR and 10-year-old GoPro cameras had been approved to fly aboard the Artemis II test flight, according to arsTECHNICA.  As far as astronauts living on board the ISS are concerned, they have mostly used tablets to stay in touch with their friends and family members over the last decade.

While the smartphones provide an easy way to capture the mission, serving to entertain the curiosity of those watching from Earth, the Crew-12 and Artemis II astronauts are still balancing high-tech tools and complex checklist items. However, even NASA recognizes the importance of a healthy mind, evidenced by their introduction of mindfulness experiments to their list of planned activities that Crew-12 Commander Jessica Meir and ESA’s Sophie Adenot will partake in, while encouraging them to bring along things of personal significance. For instance, Crew-12 Commander Jessica Meir will carry her three-year-old daughter’s stuffed rabbit to the International Space Station. This will stand alongside many examples of crew at the orbiting lab paying tributes, as with Adenot bringing Claudie Haigneré’s mission patch, who was the first French woman in space. Many of the crew aboard the ISS have also been known to indulge in hobbies and cultural activities, having dedicated long hours to conducting science and station upkeep. 

As NASA looks toward the second wet dress rehearsal and actual launch of Artemis II, no earlier than March 2026, the agency hopes the repairs they made to the SLS rocket’s tail service mast umbilical after a hydrogen leak during the first rehearsal are successful. As for Crew-12, their launch was further delayed due to the weather not being optimal until Friday, February 13, 2026, at a time no earlier than 5:15 am EST, with docking intended for 3:15 pm EST on Saturday, February 14, 2026. 

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