Artemis II Astronauts Snap Stunning Moon Photos on iPhone 17 Pro Max

The Artemis II crew from NASA is getting close to the Moon, and the images they’re sending back—taken on an iPhone 17 Pro Max—are catching people’s attention.

This weekend, NASA shared three stunning images of astronauts inside the Orion spacecraft, which is designed to take humans beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo missions. The photos show the crew gazing out at the Moon’s stark, cratered landscape visible through Orion’s windows. Remarkably, they were captured entirely using a consumer smartphone.

What’s Happening Up There

Artemis II marks the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon after more than five decades since Apollo 17 in 1972. While this mission won’t land on the lunar surface, it will send four astronauts on a flyby around the Moon. Think of it as a rehearsal for Artemis III, which plans to put boots on the Moon.

This past weekend, the crew focused on preparations for the lunar flyby. Amid those tasks, they took some time to grab an iPhone and capture the incredible sight of the Moon just a few hundred miles away.

An iPhone in Deep Space

The fact that these photos were taken with an iPhone 17 Pro Max highlights how far smartphone camera technology has come. This model features Apple’s latest camera system, with a larger main sensor and better low-light capabilities—qualities that work even at a distance of 240,000 miles from Earth.

Apple has partnered with NASA for a while now. However, having a current flagship iPhone onboard an active lunar mission as a documentation tool is a significant development. It’s akin to taking a GoPro to Everest; it wasn’t made for that specific task, but it’s reliable enough for professionals in extreme situations.

NASA made these three photos available on its public Flickr account, allowing anyone to see what the Moon looks like from Orion’s windows.

What This Means

This story resonates on several levels for everyday users.

First, the images themselves. NASA posted them on Flickr, so you can view them right now on the same phone that might have taken them. It’s a bit surreal to look at lunar photos on your iPhone that were captured with an iPhone.

Next, this situation serves as a quiet endorsement of smartphone camera quality. Professionals in a challenging environment chose to use a consumer device, and NASA deemed the results fit for official publication. If you’ve ever doubted whether your pocket camera is “good enough,” it seems the answer from low lunar orbit is a resounding yes.

Lastly, Artemis II is a crucial step toward a crewed Moon landing. Everything the crew learns on this mission—about Orion’s systems, living in deep space, and documenting the journey—will directly inform what comes next.

What People Are Saying

“The fact that these are iPhone photos and they look this good is actually kind of insane. We’ve normalized incredible cameras to the point where NASA just… uses one.”

“Seeing an astronaut’s face reflected in the window with the Moon right there behind them—that image is going to be in history books.”

Further Reading

• NASA shares breathtaking images of Artemis II astronauts taking in the view from Orion’s windows — Engadget
• NASA Shares Photos Shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max During Artemis II Mission to the Moon — MacRumors
• Artemis II photos on NASA’s official Flickr — Image 1

What To Watch

• The lunar flyby itself is the next major milestone for Artemis II. The crew will circle the Moon before returning to Earth, offering more chances for documentation and system testing.
• Splashdown and post-mission data will provide NASA with valuable insights on how Orion performs during a complete deep-space round trip with a crew—information vital for planning Artemis III.
• Artemis III, the upcoming crewed Moon landing mission, is still on the horizon. The success of Artemis II is essential for this next step. Keep an eye out for NASA’s schedule updates after the crew returns.
• More photos are likely on the way. NASA has been actively sharing mission photos on its public Flickr account, and the crew still has plenty of mission time left.