Space Selfies: Astronauts to Bring Smartphones on Crew-12 Mission
Astronauts are now allowed to bring their latest smartphones with them on space missions, thanks to a new policy change announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. This change will enable astronauts to capture special moments, share inspiring images, and document their celestial surroundings more easily while in orbit. The new guidelines will be in effect for the upcoming Crew-12 mission, where astronauts will have the opportunity to take iPhones and Android smartphones to space. This change marks a significant shift in the type of technology permitted for space travel, allowing astronauts to use modern devices for both personal and scientific purposes.
The Crew-12 mission, scheduled for launch on March 6, will be the first to benefit from this new policy. Astronauts selected for this mission, including NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, the European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, will have the privilege of taking smartphones with them to the International Space Station. Additionally, the Artemis 2 mission, set to send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, will also allow astronauts to bring smartphones to capture the historic moment of seeing the far side of the moon. This mission is a crucial step in NASA's lunar exploration program and will pave the way for future moon landings.
The Crew-12 mission, part of NASA's commercial crew program, will be the 12th human science expedition to the International Space Station conducted in collaboration with SpaceX. This program enables NASA to utilize SpaceX's vehicles to transport astronauts and cargo to orbit, allowing NASA to focus on its Artemis lunar program and other spaceflight missions. The upcoming mission will use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch a Dragon capsule carrying the astronauts to the ISS. The mission was rescheduled to accommodate the medical evacuation of the Crew-11 astronauts, with the launch now set for February 12 from Launch Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
In conclusion, the new policy allowing astronauts to bring smartphones to space represents a significant step forward in space exploration. By providing astronauts with modern technology, NASA aims to enhance their ability to document their experiences, conduct scientific experiments, and share their journey with the world. This change reflects NASA's commitment to innovation and progress in space travel, setting the stage for future missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.