Nikon and Apple Cameras Selected for NASA's Artemis II Mission Without Payment

Nikon cameras have been NASA's primary choice for space photography since the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, spanning film, digital SLR, and now mirrorless eras. The Artemis II mission, which captured images during its lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, utilized Nikon D5 cameras for their proven reliability in harsh space conditions. Apple iPhones, specifically the iPhone 17 Pro Max, were also used on the mission, marking the first time smartphones have qualified for extended orbital use. Neither Nikon nor Apple paid for their inclusion; equipment was selected based on rigorous testing and astronaut preference. Nikon's Senior Executive Vice President Hiroyuki Ikegami expressed honor at contributing to the mission, noting the Z9 mirrorless camera is slated for the lunar surface during Artemis III. Hasselblad cameras, famous for Apollo 11 photos in 1969, were referenced in discussions but not used on Artemis II. The mission crew included Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. Images captured include Earthset views and solar eclipses, with iPhones used for humanizing selfies that NASA recognized for public relations impact. Testing for space involves withstanding temperature swings and cosmic radiation, with the D5 chosen for its certainty over newer models.