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NASA Greenlights iPhone 17 Pro Max for Utilization by Astronauts on Artemis II Mission

### NASA’s Artemis II Mission: iPhones in Space

Earlier this year, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed that astronauts participating in the Artemis II mission would be permitted to “fly with the latest smartphones.” This innovative decision has paved the way for new opportunities to document the journey to the Moon, as noted by *The New York Times*.

#### No Connectivity, Just Photos and Videos

At present, four iPhone 17 Pro Max devices are en route to the Moon at about 25,000 mph. While this is not the inaugural occurrence of an iPhone in space, Artemis II stands out as it is the first occasion NASA has provided each crew member with an iPhone to take photographs and videos.

Apple indicated that it was not involved in the process of approving iPhones for the Artemis II mission. Nonetheless, this mission signifies the first instance in which an iPhone has been fully certified for prolonged use in orbit and beyond. The devices are restricted to photography and videography, as they lack the capability to connect to the internet or utilize Bluetooth.

The process of certifying the iPhones for flight was intricate and comprised multiple stages. According to Tobias Niederwieser, an assistant research professor at BioServe Space Technologies, the process includes:

1. Presenting the hardware to a safety panel.
2. Recognizing potential hazards, such as movable parts or materials that could fracture.
3. Formulating a strategy to mitigate these hazards.
4. Demonstrating that the strategy is effective.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max incorporates advanced materials, including Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple asserts is “more resilient than any smartphone glass.” However, shatter resistance was just one of numerous considerations for NASA.

NASA’s assessment process is designed to guarantee the safety of both the crew and the spacecraft. In a microgravity setting, hardware operates differently than on Earth. For instance, NASA examined the use of Velcro to secure the phones within the Orion capsule, and at least one phone was placed into a leg pocket of an astronaut’s flight suit prior to liftoff.

#### Capturing the Journey

The Artemis II crew will not exclusively depend on iPhones for photography. They also have access to four GoPro Hero 11 cameras and two Nikon D5 bodies. One of the Nikon cameras recently snapped a breathtaking image of Earth illuminated by the full moon.

As the mission unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the crew will capture equally stunning photos and videos with their iPhones. For those eager to follow the astronauts’ journey and the images they share, updates will be available on NASA’s official website.

### Conclusion

The incorporation of iPhones in the Artemis II mission signifies a notable advancement in merging modern technology with space exploration. By allowing astronauts to document their experiences with familiar devices, NASA is not only improving the mission’s outreach but also making the Moon seem more within reach for the public.

Nvidia’s $2 Billion Marvell Deal: More Than an Investment, It’s a Toll Booth

Nvidia has invested $2 billion in Marvell Technology and folded the chipmaker into its NVLink Fusion ecosystem, creating a partnership that covers custom AI accelerators, silicon photonics, and 5G/6G infrastructure. The deal ensures that every custom chip Marvell designs for hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft still generates Nvidia revenue through mandatory platform components, turning […]

This story continues at The Next Web

Enhance Your Android Device: Modify These 4 Configurations for Quicker and Smoother Messaging

a more seamless Android experience (the higher the frames per second, the less noticeable it is when one is dropped). Therefore, if you’ve also sensed that things aren’t always as fluid as they ought to be in the Android realm, you are not alone.

Specifically, Android’s messaging functionality has been a longstanding issue for Google, but that doesn’t imply you can’t enhance it with a few simple adjustments to your settings — assuming you know where to find them. Instead of enduring a frustrating texting experience on your Android device, isn’t it time you took action?

By eliminating a few extraneous features cluttering Gboard and accelerating animations while adopting a more elegant, intentional typing method, along with some collaboration from your close contacts to alleviate communication obstacles, you can significantly enhance your texting experience on Android with these four suggestions. Rest assured, dedicating some time to fine-tune a few settings on your Android device will enable you to text with assurance and ease while steering clear of the more frustrating overcorrections frequently integrated into commercial software meant for wide use.

Minimize your system animations for a quicker user experience

The Ultimate App for Tracking TV, Movies, Podcasts, and More

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 122, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, go ‘Zona, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about early Apple employees and weather apps and one-page productivity systems, watching […]

Super Meat Boy 3D Turns Suffering into Fun

The original Super Meat Boy is one of the best-known indie games of all time. Released in 2010, it’s a brutally difficult 2D platformer, but so fun to play: The short levels almost feel like speedrunning puzzles, and even though they’re filled with traps and buzzsaws, dying isn’t so bad because you revive nearly instantly. […]

Sway Motorsports’ Condition After Shark Tank: Updates After Season 6

In Season 6 of Shark Tank, which aired in 2014, Sway Motorsports garnered attention as a potentially transformative player in the realm of dependable and secure urban transport. The offering was an electric three-wheeled scooter. A participant on the show, one of the “sharks,” expressed enough interest to propose a deal. However, that arrangement never materialized post-show. This can occur when a deal fails to pass a follow-up due diligence phase, wherein both sides assess their mutual understanding and weigh the risks against the benefits. The reasons behind the deal’s failure to close are unclear, but it appeared to signal the demise of Sway Motorsports. These scooters never entered production.

What distinguished Sway Motorsports was its unique three-wheel vehicle design. The episode claimed that this configuration rendered them safer than conventional two-wheeled scooters, such as the all-terrain electric scooter from Segway. The scooters were capable of traveling up to 60 miles on a single battery charge and could reach speeds of 60 mph. Their ability to carry bags and allow the rider to remain stationary without the need for balance made them seem perfect for urban commuting. The “sway” in the name derived from the fact that riders could lean to steer the scooter.

Details of the Sway Motorsports Shark Tank deal

Sway Motorsports was showcased on Shark Tank by founder Joe Wilcox, who aimed to transform urban transport similarly to how RocketSkates sought to in Season 7. Wilcox had already manufactured and presold some of these scooters and could demonstrate their functionality. He aimed to sell them via dealerships for $7,999 each. He requested $300,000 from the panel of potential investors in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the company. The purpose of the funding was to assist Sway Motorsports with its manufacturing processes.

The sharks were largely doubtful. Many felt that Sway Motorsports was unlikely to achieve successful production, although they found the concept quite intriguing. When Mark Cuban expressed a desire to see the company expand further, Wilcox successfully persuaded him to invest now for a larger percentage: 20%. Despite Cuban’s agreement, the deal ultimately fell apart after the show.

Sometimes entrepreneurs on Shark Tank who do not secure a deal still manage to find success. For instance, the creator of RocketSkates received no deal, decided to abandon the skates, and has since continued to develop other urban transport innovations. In the case of Sway Motorsports, however, the outcome has clearly been unfavorable. From what is visible, the company seems to no longer operate.

Does Sway Motorsports have a future?

Upon investigating whether Sway Motorsports has any intentions of bringing these scooters to production in the future, we encountered rather bleak information. Sway Motorsports’ website seems to be entirely nonfunctional — the page fails to load. The company’s last post on Facebook dates back to 2017, promoting an event featuring the brand. The final Instagram post and the most recent YouTube uploads are also from 2017. Throughout the years, numerous commenters on these social media platforms have inquired about purchasing the electric scooters and the company’s operational status. None of these queries have received a response.

Joe Wilcox maintains a professional profile on LinkedIn. His career history is notable, with experience as an industrial designer for NASA and MIT, as well as time spent as a toy inventor and designer at IDEO. Sway Motorsports is detailed in his career history, indicating he served as the Founder and CEO from 2013 to 2018. There is no LinkedIn business page for Sway Motorsports, suggesting it is unlikely that the company has undergone any ownership transitions.

The shortage of urban transport options is a persistent challenge in many cities, paired with the difficulty and cost of finding parking. This issue has driven Elon Musk’s Boring Company to develop underground tunnels for personal public transportation between major city landmarks. It appears that Sway Motorsports will not be part of this initiative.