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Artemis 2 Astronauts Snap Earth Selfies with iPhone
6 Apr
Summary
- Artemis 2 astronauts captured stunning Earth photos using an iPhone.
- Selfies were taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max's front camera.
- An older GoPro Hero 4 Black camera was also used for mission footage.
During their recent mission, Artemis 2 astronauts took remarkable photos of Earth from orbit, notably using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Commander Reid Wiseman captured evocative selfies through the Orion spacecraft's main cabin window, utilizing the iPhone's 18-megapixel front-facing camera. These images showcase the Earth's 'pale blue dot' against the darkness of space, with the astronauts' faces softly lit.
The photos, characterized by their moody lighting and stunning perspective, were taken with default camera settings and required minimal editing in Adobe Lightroom Classic. While the front camera was used for these selfies, other mission photography, including shots of the Moon, utilized a Nikon DSLR. NASA has yet to release images taken with the iPhone 17's rear camera array.
Additionally, the mission employed an older GoPro Hero 4 Black, first released in 2014, for exterior shots of the Orion spacecraft. This action camera, capable of 4K video at 30 fps, highlights a surprising reliance on older technology for certain aspects of space exploration documentation. The Artemis 2 crew's diverse camera usage suggests an ongoing effort to document their journey through various photographic means as they approach the lunar surface.
