Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed his pride following the successful completion of Artemis II. In a post shared on his personal X account, Cook applauded the astronauts for documenting the beauty of space using the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
“Congratulations to Artemis II on a successful mission! You’ve beautifully captured the wonders of space and our planet, taking iPhone photography to a whole new level. We’re grateful you shared it with the world. Your work continues to inspire us all to think differently,” Cook wrote.
The praise comes as no surprise. Launched on April 1, 2026, Artemis II marked humanity’s first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years. It also made history as the first mission to use smartphones to document such a monumental journey.
Each of the four crew members aboard the Orion spacecraft was equipped with an iPhone 17 Pro Max, after NASA confirmed the device met strict safety and operational requirements for space missions.
The images captured during the mission quickly drew global attention. Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch used the device’s 18MP front camera to take remarkable shots, featuring Earth glowing majestically in the background from beyond orbit.
However, bringing a smartphone into space wasn’t simple. Before being approved for flight aboard Orion, the iPhone underwent rigorous NASA testing. This included safety inspections, hazard identification—such as potential risks from glass components—and mitigation procedures. Inside the zero-gravity cabin, the devices were secured with Velcro to prevent them from floating freely.
During the mission, the iPhones were limited in functionality. They were used strictly for capturing photos and videos, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity disabled.
The 10-day mission concluded with a successful splashdown off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026. All four astronauts returned safely to Earth.
For Apple, the mission represents a rare and powerful form of organic marketing—one that money simply can’t buy. Its flagship device didn’t just stay on Earth; it traveled around the Moon alongside humans, with a single celebratory post from Cook marking the achievement.
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