NASA just gave Apple the best Shot on iPhone ad ever
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- NASA’s Artemis II astronauts used an iPhone 17 Pro to capture stunning photos of Earth from space, marking the first smartphone fully qualified for extended orbital use.
- Macworld reports that the specially configured iPhones lack Internet and Bluetooth connectivity, serving exclusively for photography during the mission.
- These impressive space images could potentially revive Apple’s popular “Shooting on iPhone” ad campaign, showcasing the camera’s advanced capabilities in extreme conditions.
Remember the Shot on iPhone ad campaign? Well, a few photos of the Artemis II astronauts might tempt Apple to bring it back.
As they head to the Moon – an event that will be livestreamed today starting at 1 p.m. ET – astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman have shared two incredible photos of Earth (via NASA’s X account) taken from the window of the Orion spacecraft. But this wasn’t taken with a high-tech camera. It was taken with an iPhone 17 Pro.
Originally designed to promote the iPhone 6, the Shot on iPhone campaign ran for years and featured original photography from iPhone users. In 2019, Apple held a contest and selected 10 winners to feature their photos on billboards in select cities, in Apple stores, and online. If the same competition took place this year, there is no doubt that these two photos would be among the winners.
Inside the Orion spacecraft, a window in the center of the image shows a well-lit Earth and astronaut Reid Wiseman sits on the right side looking at Earth.
NASA
As the New York Times reports, the iPhones aboard the spacecraft are strictly for taking photos and cannot connect to the internet or Bluetooth accessories. Apple isn’t involved in the planning or selection of the phones used on board, but we assume they’re pretty happy with the results.
The photos show Koch and Reid looking out the window at Earth, which is almost entirely visible. The included alt text reads: “Inside the Orion spacecraft, a window in the center of the image shows a well-lit Earth and an astronaut sits on the right side looking at Earth.” The photos were taken with an iPhone 17 Pro, but it’s unclear what zoom or settings were used.
Although iPhones have traveled to space before, this is the first time a smartphone has been fully qualified for extended use in orbit.
