NASA Artemis II: Nikon Z9 orbits the Moon and becomes the future NASA camera
[20:05 Sun,5.April 2026 by Thomas Richter]
As part of NASA's Artemis II mission, a manned NASA mission will orbit the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program. In a Q&A session, mission commander Reid Wiseman revealed that the crew fought hard to get the Nikon Z9 (here is our review of the Nikon Z9) on board already.
Nikon Z9 becomes the HULC
Originally, the Z9 was only officially scheduled for use on the Moon as part of the Artemis IV mission (and the Artemis III test mission in low Earth orbit beforehand). It is intended to be used on the Moon in a specially modified version called HULC – Handheld Universal Lunar Camera – to take pictures of the lunar surface, the lunar lander, and the astronauts who have landed/are walking on the surface.
The HULC consists of the modified Nikon Z9, including revised circuitry, special firmware, and a custom-made thermal protective housing for space use, which is designed to protect the camera from the rigors of space, such as extreme temperature fluctuations on the Moon, the vacuum, and radiation in space. Using a grip specially developed by NASA, it will also be operable while wearing spacesuit gloves. The Z9 will then be used in conjunction with selected NIKKOR Z lenses modified for lunar use.
HULC Camera
Nikon Z9 test for the Moon landing
However, the Artemis crew wanted to subject the Z9 to an initial test in space now to gain experience on how the camera's sensors react to the intense radiation in space before it is used for the Moon landing.
NASA Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman: "We've done some training on the Z9, which is a great piece of gear...We'll also have our two Nikon D5s, which are great in low light and great for optical viewing of the lunar surface with our long lens."
Here is the Artemis crew's Q&A; the Nikon Z9 is discussed at 11:22:
Nikon D5 as a workhorse
The main camera for the Artemis II mission remains the proven, 10-year-old Nikon D5 digital SLR, two of which are on board to capture images of the lunar surface and Earth using two 80-400mm and 14-24mm lenses. The reason for this is its long history as a NASA camera and the fact that it has already been extensively tested in space (including on board the ISS). The transition from the Nikon D5 to the Z9 is overdue, however, as the latter represents the state of the art as a current mirrorless digital camera (DSLM).
First spectacular images of the NASA Artemis II mission with the Nikon D5
And GoPro
In addition to the Nikon DSLRs/DSLMs, several GoPro action cams are also being used in other roles for the Artemis II mission. Four modified special cameras are mounted on the solar panels of the Orion spacecraft and are intended to provide high-resolution footage of the spacecraft, the Earth, and the Moon from an external perspective. At the same time, they serve as part of NASA's Orion Imagery System, which comprises more than 28 cameras, to inspect the Orion.
Additionally, the four-person Artemis II crew has been equipped by National Geographic with body-worn GoPro cameras to document everyday life on board inside the capsule. This material is intended to capture the manned lunar orbit from a personal perspective as well.
First spectacular images of the NASA Artemis II mission with the Nikon D5
From Hasselblad to Nikon
In the past, Hasselblad provided the NASA cameras—they were used almost exclusively to take the iconic photos of the Apollo Moon landings, among others. These cameras were specially modified Hasselblad medium-format cameras whose 70mm film provided images with enormous detail. The partnership between NASA and Hasselblad began in 1962, when astronaut Wally Schirra privately took a Hasselblad 500C into space and convinced NASA of its quality.
Hasselblad Data Camera for the Apollo mission
NASA's switch to Nikon began as early as the Apollo 15 mission in 1971: NASA was looking for a more compact, faster-to-operate camera for shots inside the capsule and found it in the Nikon F. As a 35mm SLR camera, it offered clear advantages because it was smaller, lighter, and offered a large selection of lenses. With the Space Shuttle program starting in 1981, Nikon then advanced to become the main camera for NASA missions—the Nikon F3 became the standard camera on board, while Hasselblad was only used occasionally for special shots.
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on the lunar surface, taken with the HDC
In the digital age, Nikon finally established itself as the NASA camera: since 1999, NASA has largely used off-the-shelf Nikon bodies with only minor modifications. Today, numerous Nikon D5 cameras are on the ISS. And for the Artemis IV mission in two years—the first Moon landing since 1972—the choice fell on the new Nikon Z9 in the form of the modified HULC.
