Capturing Lunar History: Artemis II Astronauts Bring Classic Cameras to the Moon

In a groundbreaking mission, the Artemis II astronauts are set to journey further from Earth than any humans before them, bringing along an unexpected companion: 10-year-old DSLR cameras.

February 24, 20263 min readPetaPixel

Capturing Lunar History: Artemis II Astronauts Bring Classic Cameras to the Moon — A Nikon DSLR camera is centered in front of a large, detailed image of the full moon, both set against a black background.

Our Take: The Resonance of Analog in an Analogous Age

The Artemis II mission, a testament to humanity's enduring drive to explore, carries with it a fascinating echo of the past: the deliberate choice of a decade-old DSLR camera over the sleek, modern mirrorless alternatives. This decision, at first glance, might seem counterintuitive in an era defined by rapid technological advancement. Yet, it speaks volumes about a deeper appreciation for tangible experiences and the enduring power of classic design. It’s a choice that resonates with our own ethos, a celebration of curated artistry and authentic moments, proving that sometimes, the most profound connections are forged through the familiar, the robust, and the thoughtfully crafted.

In a world saturated with fleeting digital impressions, the tactile engagement offered by a DSLR possesses a unique allure. The satisfying click of a shutter, the deliberate act of adjusting a physical dial, the very weight of the camera in hand – these are not mere operational details, but integral parts of the creative process. They foster a more mindful approach to image-making, encouraging a deeper consideration of each frame. For the Artemis II astronauts, venturing into the profound expanse of space, this grounded physicality offers an anchor, a familiar touchpoint against the breathtaking, almost surreal, backdrop of lunar vistas and the distant glow of Earth. It’s an immersive experience, allowing them to capture not just images, but the very essence of their monumental journey.

This selection also speaks to the enduring value of established technology, particularly when it has proven its reliability and artistic capability. These DSLRs are not simply tools; they are extensions of the astronauts' artistic vision, trusted companions that have likely served them well in capturing countless moments of beauty and significance. To bring them to the Moon is to imbue the mission with a sense of heritage, connecting the pioneering spirit of Artemis II with the legacy of space exploration photography. It’s a subtle yet powerful statement that true innovation doesn't always mean discarding the old, but rather understanding its inherent strengths and integrating it into new frontiers, much like how we believe in blending vibrant lifestyle energy with an artistic sensibility to create something truly aspirational and authentic.

From PetaPixel

The four Artemis II astronauts set to make history by traveling further away from Earth than any human in history will be taking 10-year-old DSLR cameras with them -- rather than modern mirrorless.

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Briefing

Source: PetaPixel
Published: February 24, 2026

Lunar Visions: Artemis II Astronauts Capture Stunning Space Photography
The two professional photography instructors who trained Artemis II astronauts to take pictures of the moon and Earth during their historic lunar flyby said they were as impressed as the public by the stunning celestial imagery caught on camera. NASA photography and video trainers Paul Reichert ‌and Katrina Willoughby said they gave the crew roughly 20 hours of special instruction leading up to the April 1 launch of the mission, which marked the first voyage of humans to the moon in more than half a century. Willoughby and Reichert are both graduates of the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology's photographic sciences program. "Most people can use a camera and get a photo that is good enough, but good enough isn't what we're after scientifically," Willoughby said on RIT's news site. Mission pilot Victor Glover has said the crew's training included on-the-ground drills in which astronauts practiced shooting pictures from inside a mock-up of the ⁠Orion capsule using a giant inflatable moon globe suspended in the dark. Selecting the right tools for the job was key to their success. The Nikon D5, a digital single-lens reflex model released in 2016, was the workhorse camera used by the crew. Reichert said the D5, used for years on the International Space Station, had proven it would withstand radiation and other extremes of space travel. Models of the Nikon camera equipment the NASA Artemis II crew took to space are shown to Reuters during an interview with Paul Reichert and Kristina Willoughby, the photography trainers who trained the astronauts, at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 14, 2026. The cameras include the Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera and two Nikon D5 DSLRs. Paul Reichert and Kristina Willoughby, the photography trainers who trained the NASA Artemis II crew to take photos of the moon, speak with Reuters at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, U.S., April 14, 2026. REUTERS/Danielle Villasana "We had a lot of flight experience with it," Reichert told Reuters in Houston on Tuesday. "We knew it could handle radiation, at least several years of radiation dosage on the ISS, and it didn't have any problems with it.” Another advantage of the D5 was its exceptional performance in low light -- a necessity for capturing crisp images in the inky blackness of space. One piece of camera equipment used by the Artemis II astronauts is familiar to many amateurs - an iPhone. Willoughby said Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max was a late addition to the Artemis equipment list. While the handheld, point-and-shoot nature of the phones was ‌useful, the ⁠large digital file sizes of the images posed a transmission challenge. "One thing we do have to think about on board is, 'What does it take to get files down?'" Willoughby said. "And unfortunately, we don't have bandwidth. And that's something a lot of people down here [on Earth] are really used to instantly having." STRIKINGLY DETAILED STUDIES Among the more dazzling photos captured by the Artemis crew was an image taken from the moon's far side showing it totally eclipsing the sun, with a soft glow around the blackened orb faint enough to leave pinpoints of light from stars ⁠in the adjacent heavens still visible in the darkness. The images also included strikingly detailed studies of the moon's heavily cratered far side, as well as moments in which Earth, dwarfed by the crew's record distance from the planet, set and rose with the lunar horizon as they flew around the moon. Unlike lunar missions from the Apollo era of more than 50 years ⁠ago, Artemis II astronauts benefited from instantly being able to review the digital photos they took, a far cry from the substantial lag time required for developing the conventional film stock that was once used. Moreover, GoPro livestreaming video gave modern Earth audiences a real-time view of space exploration. Willoughby said the exhilaration on the ground at ⁠mission control in Houston during the April 6 lunar flyby was palpable. “And the excitement in the back rooms and the front rooms as the images were being seen and being put out was pretty good. We were all very excited," Willoughby said. Besides the D5, the crew also utilized a Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera and several lenses, including a 14-24mm zoom, 80-400mm zoom and a standard 35mm. submitted by /u/SeaMossMonster [link] [comments]
A New View of the Moon: Artemis II's Digital Lens
"The astronauts have just been talking to mission control about photographs they are taking of the Moon - BBC videographer Kevin Church gives a run down of the camera kit they have at their disposal. Compared to their Apollo predecessors, the Artemis crew have an array of digital cameras at their disposal. They’ve brought three Nikon cameras: two D5s, one with a 14-24mm wide lens to capture the whole Moon and the other with an 80-400mm zoom lens that can pick out the finer details. They’ve also packed a Z9 with a 35mm lens, which takes images that are close to what the human eye can see. There are GoPros mounted to the solar panels outside the spacecraft and each crew member has an iPhone to document the mission inside. During the fly-by, the capsule’s lights will be dimmed to get the best possible pictures. However even these modern cameras will struggle to match the quality of the 70mm Hasselblad cameras used by the Apollo astronauts. But packing one of these would mean bringing along multiple rolls of film, while a digital camera can store thousands of photos on a memory card the size of a postage stamp." I love that the BBC doesn't seem to think there are digital backs for Hasselblad's submitted by /u/UllrsWonders [link] [comments]
A Decade-Old Nikon: Capturing the Artemis II Mission's Beauty
While much of the discussion surrounding the Artemis II crew's beautiful photos from their Orion spacecraft has focused on the images themselves, and they are fantastic shots, some of the discussion has surrounded the cameras used to capture the photos. Photographers love chatting gear, after all. While the Nikon D5 DSLR may seem like a puzzling choice as the primary camera on a prestigious space mission in 2026, it's the best tool for the job. [Read More]