The Nikon Z 9 has been chosen by NASA to be used on the moon by astronauts

Atremis 1
(Image credit: NASA)

With NASA's original lunar landings far back enough in the rearview mirror that even the conspiracy theories are getting buried under piles of dust, it's already time to go back. Add in the rapid march of other global powers that threaten to take America's prestige, the need to find useful minerals on the moon, and not to mention the less-than-diverse approach to crew selection from the Apollo era which doesn't look too good when re-examined and it's definitely time for Artemis – NASA's new lunar program. The question has been what camera do they take.

Nikon has told us what we more or less already knew – that the heart of the physical camera the astronauts will hold when they venture on the surface. It will be a Nikon Z 9, adapted, of course, for the space suits. The resulting device will be known as the Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC). The camera was tested in Lanzarote last year.

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook

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