Tim Cook praises Artemis II crew’s iPhone photography in space mission
Tim Cook has welcomed the successful Pacific Ocean splashdown of the Artemis II crew, while also drawing attention to images captured by astronauts using an iPhone during the mission, according to reports.
Tim Cook stated on social media platform X that the mission had successfully captured the wonders of space and Earth, adding that the imagery taken using an iPhone had taken mobile photography to new heights and informed that such work continues to inspire people globally.
Congratulations to Artemis II on a successful mission! You captured the wonders of space and our planet beautifully, taking iPhone photography to new heights, and we’re grateful you shared it with the world. Your work continues to inspire us all to think different. Welcome home! – Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 11, 2026
NASA, while releasing a set of images from the lunar mission, revealed that some of the photographs were taken using the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The astronauts, including commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, were permitted to carry their smartphones on board the Artemis II mission.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman had earlier stated in a post on X in February that astronauts would soon be allowed to fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II, adding that the move was aimed at helping crews capture personal moments and share images and videos with the world. He did not specify the brand of the devices at the time.
This view just hits different ???? @Astro_Christina and @astro_reid take a moment to look back at Earth as they continue deep into space toward the Moon. – NASA (@NASA) April 4, 2026
Among the images released, one of the most widely discussed featured commander Reid Wiseman looking out through the Orion spacecraft window, with Earth visible in the distance as a pale blue sphere set against the darkness of space. The image was reported to have been captured using the front camera of the device.
The development also prompted reactions on social media, with users expressing enthusiasm about the use of smartphones in space missions and the quality of imagery produced, with some attributing the visuals to Apple’s technology and anticipating further such developments in future missions.
First Published on April 11, 2026, 21:31:01 IST
