Artemis II crew using Nikon D5 and Z9

[AlanF]

The crew is using the D5 as proven technology and introducing the Z9 for future standard use.

The NASA Artemis II Crew's Stunning First Photos of Earth

Hello, Earth.

petapixel.com

 

[MikeGalos]

The crew is using the D5 as proven technology and introducing the Z9 for future standard use.

Not so much "introducing the Nikon Z 9 for future standard use" but testing it for deep space use. It's already certified for Low Earth Orbit use and is the standard camera for use on the International Space Station. Additionally, last year Nikon and NASA entered into an agreement for Nikon to produce modified Nikon Z 9 bodies for lunar surface use including glove-friendly controls and dust shielding. That program is called Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC).

 

[AlanF]

It says in the linked Petapixel article: They will be testing the camera, as the Z9 will be the backbone of the next-generation Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC) used on future Artemis missions, including Artemis III, when humans will step foot on the Moon for the first time since 1972.

Thanks for the additional information on the background.

 

[shadowsports]

Canon could have sent an R5 mkII and R1 to NASA with 2-3 lenses. Talk about good PR. They missed the boat.

 

[MikeGalos]

It says in the linked Petapixel article: They will be testing the camera, as the Z9 will be the backbone of the next-generation Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC) used on future Artemis missions, including Artemis III, when humans will step foot on the Moon for the first time since 1972.

Not quite accurate. The next lunar mission will be Artemis IV currently scheduled for 2028. The delays in SpaceX' developing their HLS lander, the Orbital Depot and the refueling tankers, all contracted to be tested in a lunar flight in early 2024 and none of which have had any public progress have caused the missions to shift. Artemis III is now an Earth Orbit mission to test docking the Orion capsule with the HLS lander and to test compatibility of the National Team's Blue Moon 2 lander's docking collar. Blue Moon 2 is the backup lander authorized when HLS missed its second deadline. It's currently slated to go to the moon on Artemis V but it could be the lander for Artemis IV if SpaceX misses their deadlines again and the National Team is ready before SpaceX despite starting three years later.

 

[MikeGalos]

Canon could have sent an R5 mkII and R1 to NASA with 2-3 lenses. Talk about good PR. They missed the boat.

Remember that Nikon has over half a century's experience in space. They've been providing NASA with space cameras since 1971 during the Apollo program and have been the standard cameras on Apollo (Command Module, not Lunar Module), Apollo/Soyuz, the Shuttle, Skylab and the International Space Station. It's rumored that all the major vendors do submit proposals every time a new camera is called for but fifty years' experience gives Nikon an edge in knowing what is needed and how to build and deliver it.

However, the embarrassing one was that some Sony fans released a fake press release that Sony had been chosen as the new Artemis camera complete with photos of executives, fake quotes and a photo of a Sony camera on a lunar-like background as an April Fools post. It actually got believed by some news sources.

 

[Will R.]

I feel like I missed the boat with canon by going to its mirrorless system . I've been a loyal Canon customer for years and feel like canon is holding me hostage by not allowing third party full frame autofocus lenses like every other manufacture of cameras has done and regretting not purchase and now feel like I should have gone to Nikon when I upgraded to mirrorless and would never again recommend canon to any new photographer now getting started or someone who's looking to upgrade I sold my mirrorless system camera and lenses and that was the time I should have made the move because although I've shown my brand loyalty to canon they have not done the same to its customer loyalty is a two way street canon should have opened up its lenses to third party for its full frame sytem including allowing them to make lens with autofocus but instead looked at it loyal customers as cash cows and not returned the same loyalty to us instead they are beating us up with high prices and no other options and the reason why I recommend other brands now other than Canon particularly Nikon which gives its customers the option of third party and why after years of showing Canon my support and loyalty I'm thinking of making the switch and will never recommend Canon again

 

[candyman]

I feel like I missed the boat with canon by going to its mirrorless system . I've been a loyal Canon customer for years and feel like canon is holding me hostage by not allowing third party full frame autofocus lenses like every other manufacture of cameras has done and regretting not purchase and now feel like I should have gone to Nikon when I upgraded to mirrorless and would never again recommend canon to any new photographer now getting started or someone who's looking to upgrade I sold my mirrorless system camera and lenses and that was the time I should have made the move because although I've shown my brand loyalty to canon they have not done the same to its customer loyalty is a two way street canon should have opened up its lenses to third party for its full frame sytem including allowing them to make lens with autofocus but instead looked at it loyal customers as cash cows and not returned the same loyalty to us instead they are beating us up with high prices and no other options and the reason why I recommend other brands now other than Canon particularly Nikon which gives its customers the option of third party and why after years of showing Canon my support and loyalty I'm thinking of making the switch and will never recommend Canon again

You are not the first coming to this forum and in the first post express disappointment about no third party lenses on Canon FF R-system. Just switch.

 

[danfaz]

I feel like I missed the boat with canon by going to its mirrorless system . I've been a loyal Canon customer for years and feel like canon is holding me hostage by not allowing third party full frame autofocus lenses like every other manufacture of cameras has done and regretting not purchase and now feel like I should have gone to Nikon when I upgraded to mirrorless and would never again recommend canon to any new photographer now getting started or someone who's looking to upgrade I sold my mirrorless system camera and lenses and that was the time I should have made the move because although I've shown my brand loyalty to canon they have not done the same to its customer loyalty is a two way street canon should have opened up its lenses to third party for its full frame sytem including allowing them to make lens with autofocus but instead looked at it loyal customers as cash cows and not returned the same loyalty to us instead they are beating us up with high prices and no other options and the reason why I recommend other brands now other than Canon particularly Nikon which gives its customers the option of third party and why after years of showing Canon my support and loyalty I'm thinking of making the switch and will never recommend Canon again

Sorry, but that was painful to read with the massive run-on sentence and no paragraphs.

 

[Del Paso]

Remember that Nikon has over half a century's experience in space. They've been providing NASA with space cameras since 1971 during the Apollo program and have been the standard cameras on Apollo (Command Module, not Lunar Module), Apollo/Soyuz, the Shuttle, Skylab and the International Space Station. It's rumored that all the major vendors do submit proposals every time a new camera is called for but fifty years' experience gives Nikon an edge in knowing what is needed and how to build and deliver it.

However, the embarrassing one was that some Sony fans released a fake press release that Sony had been chosen as the new Artemis camera complete with photos of executives, fake quotes and a photo of a Sony camera on a lunar-like background as an April Fools post. It actually got believed by some news sources.

So many lies, boasting and exaggerations by Sony's fanboyz make it hard to recognize an April fools post.
I fully agree on the reasons you mentioned why NASA chose Nikon. Their huge experience with similar projects.
For former missions, the NASA was mostly using gear by Nikon, Hasselblad, Zeiss, Angenieux.