Apple spotlights iPhone 17 Pro Max on Artemis II

Apple Inc. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, drew attention to the use of its iPhone 17 Pro Max by NASA astronauts during the Artemis II mission around the Moon. The company pointed to the device being used aboard the Orion spacecraft to take personal images and video during the flight.

According to the details highlighted, astronauts used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to capture photos of themselves with Earth visible behind them while inside Orion last week. The images referenced were taken on April 2 and show Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch photographed through the spacecraft’s cabin windows.

The mention of the iPhone’s role followed a NASA step earlier this year. NASA qualified the iPhone for extended orbital use in February, a milestone that Apple linked to the device’s presence on the mission.

Apple’s senior leadership also publicly acknowledged the moment. Apple CEO Tim Cook and the company’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak posted on social media about the mission’s success and the iPhone’s involvement, aligning the company’s messaging with the high-profile spaceflight.

Artemis II is described by NASA as its first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The mission involved a flyby around the Moon and set a new record for human distance from Earth, with the spacecraft returning on Friday, according to the information provided.

NASA’s crew used the iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal photos and videos, with each of the four crew members having access to the device for that purpose. At the same time, the mission relied on other imaging tools for additional photography, including professional cameras such as the Nikon D5 and Nikon Z 9, as well as the GoPro HERO4 Black.

For markets and industry observers, the episode places consumer electronics branding alongside a government-led space program, while also underscoring NASA’s device-qualification process for longer-duration use. The information released does not specify technical performance details, procurement terms, or whether the iPhone’s qualification will expand to other missions beyond the February decision and the Artemis II use described.