NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed trip around the moon since 1972, will rely on a Nikon D5 DSLR rather than a state-of-the-art mirrorless camera. Mission commander Reid Wiseman revealed this in a Facebook post, noting the crew will use the aging camera.
While Nikon signed a Space Act agreement with NASA in 2024 for its flagship mirrorless Z9, which has proven effective on the ISS, the D5 was chosen for the moon mission. NASA told PetaPixel that future Artemis missions will use next-generation camera systems currently undergoing spaceflight qualifications, suggesting the Z9 isn't ready yet.
The Artemis II launch, initially targeted for no earlier than March 6, has been delayed due to a helium-system issue on the rocket. Sending a camera to the moon involves extreme temperature swings and cosmic radiation, requiring component redesigns and extensive testing—far beyond ISS missions.
The Nikon D5, launched in 2016, is a rugged pro-grade DSLR with a 20.8-MP sensor and an ISO range up to 3,280,000. It's a low-light powerhouse with excellent autofocus and a battery life rated for 3,780 shots. Nikon's history with NASA includes cameras like the Nikon Photomic FTN on Apollo 15 and various models on the ISS.