Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Marketing Greg Joswiak celebrated the return of the Artemis II crew on Friday, after an unprecedented ten-day mission that saw four astronauts fly around the moon and back. The crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego, bringing home more than just scientific data — they brought back images that amount to the most ambitious Shot on iPhone campaign in history.

The astronauts captured stunning views of Earth from space using iPhones, which NASA approved after passing safety panel and hazard checks. The devices were cleared specifically for photography and videography, allowing the crew to document special moments. Tim Cook praised the crew on X for capturing "the wonders of space and our planet beautifully," while Greg Joswiak quipped it was "One small step for iPhone. One giant leap for space selfies."

This collaboration proved remarkably successful for Apple, especially given NASA's general prohibition on endorsing commercial products. The space agency is typically glacial and extremely cautious about adding new equipment to flight plans, making this exception particularly noteworthy. With WWDC approaching in June, Apple now has extraordinary imagery to potentially showcase at its keynote.