There was a full-on space party vibe on Wednesday as rockets rumbled, cameras rolled, and history quietly repeated itself. After more than five decades, humans are finally heading back around the Moon. And this time, they’re carrying something very 2020s: iphone.
At Florida’s iconic Kennedy Space Center, excitement shot through the roof as NASA prepared for liftoff of the much-anticipated Artemis 2. Four astronauts suited up, waved goodbye, and climbed aboard a massive rocket for a mission that hasn’t happened in more than 50 years; a crewed flyby of the Moon. And yes, they had iPhones tucked into their suits.
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iPhones in space? Yes, really
Before launch, NASA teams slipped iPhones into the astronauts’ bright orange suits with blue trim. A short clip shared online showed the crew being fitted with the devices. This is the first time NASA has allowed smartphones on a crewed spacecraft.
New iPhones are being packed into the suits of the Artemis II Crew!
There is something very familiar about the iPhone look that will make the Moon feel accessible, we are literally going to see the lunar surface through the same lens we use to capture our own lives every day. pic.twitter.com/sDDM5NSRMX
— Owen Sparks (@OwenSparks) April 1, 2026
The crew includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The phones will let them snap photos, record videos, and capture behind-the-scenes moments as they travel around the Moon.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained the idea, saying the crew should have tools to capture special memories for their families and to share inspiring images with the world.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens added that while this is new for NASA, commercial space flights have safely allowed smartphones for nearly a decade. So, in space terms, NASA is just catching up.
Countdown, cheers, and a historic send-off
When the rocket finally lifted off, cheers erupted. But the most emotional moment came right after takeoff.
Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson spoke directly to the crew, delivering a message that sounded straight out of a movie: they were carrying the hopes of a new generation and the daring spirit of people across the globe. The words “Good luck” and “God speed” echoed as the spacecraft climbed higher.
What the astronauts will actually do
The nearly 10-day mission is all about testing but it’s far from boring. The astronauts will circle the Moon without landing. First, they’ll perform safety checks to make sure the spacecraft works perfectly. Then they’ll practice manual piloting during docking simulations, basically rehearsing future Moon missions.
If everything goes smoothly, the crew will travel farther from Earth than any humans have gone in more than 50 years. That alone makes the mission a big deal. Every system will be tested, and all the data collected will help plan future lunar journeys.
What Artemis 2 means for astronauts
This mission is the first crewed test flight of NASA’s Artemis program, which follows the legendary Apollo missions. It’s also the first time in 53 years that astronauts are traveling beyond Earth’s orbit around the Moon.
In simple words: this is NASA’s rehearsal before sending humans back to actually land on the Moon again.
And this time, the astronauts won’t just rely on official cameras. They’ll also capture personal snapshots, maybe selfies with Earth in the background, maybe quiet videos of the Moon passing by.