On Saturday, NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully splashed down after completing a historic journey around the Moon—the first crewed mission of its kind since Apollo 17. As congratulatory messages poured in, Apple CEO Tim Cook praised the crew’s return, highlighting the stunning images of Earth and deep space captured on specially provided iPhone 17 Pro Max devices.
The Artemis 2 astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—were given specially customized silver iPhone 17 Pro Max units, which they used to document their mission and capture stunning images of Earth from deep space. Social media buzzed with praise for the accomplishment, as people marveled that the same iPhone they use was producing such extraordinary photos in space.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) just hours after the four astronauts splashed down safely off the California coast, Cook wrote, “Congratulations to Artemis II on a successful mission! You captured the wonders of space and our planet beautifully, taking iPhone photography to new heights, and we’re grateful you shared it with the world. Your work continues to inspire us all to think different. Welcome home!”
Social media erupted with amazement as astronauts used iPhones to capture stunning images from deep space, with many calling it “Shot on iPhone gone intergalactic.” Users shared side-by-side comparisons with official mission photos, while others praised the unexpected blend of space tech and consumer devices—especially since Apple wasn’t formally part of the mission. Tim Cook’s post quickly gained over 22,000 likes and 350,000 views.
Artemis II itself marked a historic step for NASA, testing critical deep-space systems including Orion’s life support, navigation, and re-entry capabilities ahead of future lunar missions. The mission carried humans farther from Earth than any since the Apollo era, while also drawing attention to the surprising role of everyday technology in extreme environments.
