Exploring the Moon: A Cinematic Journey with NASA Astronauts and the iPhone 17 Pro Max

NASA cannot engage in direct product sponsorship, but the recent Artemis II lunar flyby mission has proven to be more impressive than any “Shot on iPhone” campaign Apple could have executed.

In February, NASA allowed astronauts to bring personal smartphones on missions, starting with Crew-12 and Artemis II. It remains unknown how the smartphones were selected, but the Artemis II crew chose the iPhone 17 Pro Max, marking the flagship phone’s journey to the Moon.

Using Apple’s smartphones, the crew captured selfies and stunning images, including a close-up of the Chebyshev crater with the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 8x zoom, taken by mission commander Reid Wiseman.

Wiseman also recorded a video of the Earthset from the Moon using an iPhone, offering a unique perspective of the event. The crew marveled at the sight in the background, adding a personal touch to the footage.

The unofficial video, shot casually to mimic the human eye’s view, showcases the Earth disappearing behind the Moon as the capsule orbits. This perspective, captured from a quarter-million miles above, provides a rare glimpse of the Earthset.

NASA and the astronauts have been cautious not to promote Apple products overtly, but the use of iPhones is evident in the shared photos. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the crew’s iPhone photography achievements and welcomed them back to Earth.

Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak expressed honor in NASA astronauts bringing iPhones to space, hailing it as a small step for the iPhone and a giant leap for space selfies.