Nasa's historic artemis ii mission launches with iphone 17 pro max on board

In a groundbreaking technological feat, NASA's latest crewed mission Artemis II has lifted off into space, carrying not just four brave astronauts but also the latest smartphone from Apple - the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Nasa gives astronauts cutting-edge tech for landmark mission

This daring venture marks the first time the space agency has allowed crew members to fly with 'smartphones', albeit without internet or Bluetooth connectivity. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman had announced in February that the astronauts on both the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions would be equipped with the latest smartphones.

Isaacman explained that the aim was to provide the astronauts with tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and videos with the world. The process of authorizing the iPhone 17 Pro Max wasn't easy, requiring a rigorous four-part procedure: presenting the hardware to a security committee, identifying risks, developing a plan to mitigate those risks, and testing the device's functionality.

According to Dr. Tobias Niederwieser of the BioServe Space Technologies Institute, cited by The New York Times, the iPhone 17 Pro Max boasts Ceramic Shield 2 protection, touted by Apple as the toughest glass or ceramic on a smartphone.

A live NASA broadcast captured the moment the astronauts were given the device, stowed in a compartment on their leg before launch. The next day, a closer shot emerged showing the iPhone 17 Pro Max clearly in the astronauts' hands, along with footage of them using it in the weightless environment.

However, the astronauts aren't limited to just the iPhone; they also have Nikon D5 cameras and four GoPro Hero 11 units at their disposal.

Apple reportedly played no direct role in the approval process for its devices on this mission, with the company highlighting that it's the first time an iPhone has met the requirements for prolonged use in space.