Fact Check: Will NASA allow astronauts to carry smartphones to space to capture moments?

WASHINGTON, DC: NASA's upcoming plans, as of early February 2026, focus on crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS), the Artemis lunar program, robotic lunar deliveries, and ongoing science/exploration efforts.

Recently, a rumor circulated across social media claiming that NASA will now allow astronauts to carry smartphones to space to capture moments and share them with the world. But is there any truth to this claim? Let us find out below.

Claim: NASA will allow astronauts to carry smartphones to space to capture moments

The claim that NASA will allow astronauts to carry smartphones to space to capture moments and share them with the world circulated via several social media posts.

An X post read, "NASA will now allow astronauts to carry smartphones to space. Admin Jared Isaacman announced the policy shift to help crews to 'capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world'. Begins with the upcoming Crew-12 and Artemis II missions."

Similarly, another X account posted, "NASA astronauts to carry latest smartphones on moon missions."

"NASA will let astronauts bring modern smartphones on upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 and Artemis II missions. An Apple spokesperson says this is the first time iPhone is fully approved for long-term use in orbit and beyond. Previously, only certain DSLRs and gear were allowed," wrote another X user. 

As per the claim, the space agency said that crews will be able to capture special moments with their families and share inspiring images with the world.

Fact check: True, NASA Administrator made the announcement

The claims made in the online post is true, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who was confirmed to the role in December 2025, made the announcement.

Moreover, several news outlets, such as NBC News, also confirmed the announcement. Isaacman wrote in a post on X, "NASA astronauts will soon fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II. We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world."

"Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline. That operational urgency will serve NASA well as we pursue the highest-value science and research in orbit and on the lunar surface. This is a small step in the right direction," he added.

With the newest smartphones in hand, the crew will be able to be a bit more spontaneous with capturing images and videos. It means the upcoming trips to space could end up being some of NASA’s most well-documented journeys yet for people in Earth.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that smartphones was taken to space by astronauts. Tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX allowed smartphones for its private astronaut missions.