Prepare for extraordinary selfies! NASA has announced that astronauts will be allowed to bring their smartphones on missions, starting with the Crew-12 and Artemis II expeditions.
The Crew-12 mission is set to launch to the International Space Station soon, while the eagerly awaited Artemis II mission, which will see humans orbit the moon for the first time since the 1960s, has been rescheduled for March.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of this change, stating, "We are equipping our crews with the means to capture memorable moments for their families and share inspiring visuals with the world."
With access to the latest smartphones, astronauts will have the opportunity to gather images and videos in a more spontaneous manner. This could lead to some of the most well-documented space journeys in NASA's history.
Imagine astronauts becoming TikTok sensations in zero gravity or capturing stunning selfies aboard the spacecraft! The swift approval of this new rule has also excited those within NASA's administrative circles.
Isaacman noted, "We challenged traditional processes and qualified modern devices for spaceflight on an accelerated timeline. This operational urgency will benefit NASA as we seek to maximize scientific research in orbit and on the lunar surface."
Historically, the newest cameras used in space missions were outdated models, but the introduction of smartphones adds a fresh and dynamic element to space photography.
This isn't the first instance of smartphones being used in space; SpaceX previously permitted them on its private astronaut missions.