NASA Launching Mini Satellites Powered by Nexus One Phones

[exfileme]

NASA is taking the cheap but effective route by launching 4-inch satellites using Android phones as the on-board computer. Brilliant.

NASA Launching Mini Satellites Powered by Nexus One Phones : Read more

 

[sourgrapes01]

They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.

 

[Vorador2]

I wonder how it will fare against radiation since the phone is not shielded. Guess that's part of test.

 

[fb39ca4]

[citation][nom]sourgrapes01[/nom]They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.[/citation]
Making satellites is not an Apple-approved use of an iDevice.

 

[xanagu]

LAWSUIT IN 3,2,1... NAO!

 

[azraa]

[citation][nom]Vorador2[/nom]I wonder how it will fare against radiation since the phone is not shielded. Guess that's part of test.[/citation]
You can get Pb/Ceramic coating from the shelves at a specialized hardware store. Sum 1+1 and there you go

 

[guru_urug]

[citation][nom]sourgrapes01[/nom]They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.[/citation]

They didnt use iPhones cause Apple is financially worth more than NASA and NASA feared a lawsuit for their rectangular shaped satelites.
In any case its good they didnt use iPhones, its difficult to orient in space and if the satellite held the phone wrong, NASA engineers would lose communication with the satellite

 

[Azimuth01]

This was done about 3 years ago by a guy and his son in their backyard. The phone was taken up to a high altitude using a weather balloon, then a hobby rocket was ignited from a platform on the balloon and launched the phone into lower space. It took videos and pictures, then fell back to earth with a small parachute and was recovered using the phones internal GPS.

This is what NASA has been reduced to?

 

[HDmac]

watchdog circuit that will monitor the system and reboot the Android smartphone if necessary

Sums up my android experience pretty well.

 

[Guest]

Skynet runs Android.

 

[noob2222]

They didn't use the iPhone because they couldn't get the software past apples app store approval.

 

[nibir2011]

[citation][nom]sourgrapes01[/nom]They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.[/citation]
Are You out of your mind since when iphones were faster than galaxy. And iphone dont even support multitasking

 

[freggo]

[citation][nom]sourgrapes01[/nom]They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.[/citation]

Wrong. Government Budgets have typically no problem with overpriced products. However, even NASA engineers could not teach such a tiny satellite how to HOLD the iPhone properly so the Antenna would not freak out!

 

[freggo]

[citation][nom]Azimuth01[/nom]This was done about 3 years ago by a guy and his son in their backyard. The phone was taken up to a high altitude using a weather balloon, then a hobby rocket was ignited from a platform on the balloon and launched the phone into lower space. It took videos and pictures, then fell back to earth with a small parachute and was recovered using the phones internal GPS.This is what NASA has been reduced to?[/citation]

Yeah, remember the story. Buy the guy of course went to the 'edge' of space; about like this test. I am sure NASA is going to do the same now Mythbuster style... MORE EXTREME

 

[belardo]

Wow, cool. I hope they had Angry Birds Space app installed... that would make it way cool.


Seriously, if the phones can last quite a while in space... it would make things cheaper. The CPUs in space tech are not super-fast... they are made to handle long-term exposure to space.

 

[alextheblue]

[citation][nom]Azimuth01[/nom]This was done about 3 years ago by a guy and his son in their backyard. The phone was taken up to a high altitude using a weather balloon, then a hobby rocket was ignited from a platform on the balloon and launched the phone into lower space. It took videos and pictures, then fell back to earth with a small parachute and was recovered using the phones internal GPS.This is what NASA has been reduced to?[/citation]NASA was using monkeys again for a while, but they ran out. So they're on to used, off-contract, cellphone-powered satellites now. Budget cuts, my friend. Things like a new fleet of limos and renting out the entire Taj Mahal is more important to the White House. He did send NASA a signed photo of his buttcheeks though, you know, as a show of faith.

 

[snowzsan]

*Sigh* Well, this is good for NASA if this proves successful and a viable replacement for multi-billion dollar satellites that do the exact same thing except cost SIGNIFICANTLY more to get into low orbit. Consumer tech has greatly advanced since the beginning of space mission and getting to space, and surviving, is becoming easier and easier as our current tech advances. Remember they did it back then with menial tech and look what it's gathered for us so far?

The requirements for space exploration don't change like our needs for tech does, therefore if a crappy computer from the 60's can control space missions, it's only logical that our (compared to that time) super mobile devices should be able to do the same thing.

 

[zybch]

I hope they cram a couple of car batteries into that thing, otherwise its gonna last 3 days and then die.

 

[itsnotmeitsyou]

malware.

 

[A Bad Day]

[citation][nom]sourgrapes01[/nom]They were going to use iPhones, since they are much faster and better than Android phones at everything, but Android phones are much cheaper and the government is cutting costs.[/citation]

NASA has less funding than the USAF's air-conditioning costs. Give them a break.

 

[outlw6669]

The image provided above is a PhoneSat 1.0 satellite during a high-altitude balloon test.

Wait, that image is not Cg!?!
Awesome
and keep up the good work Nasa!

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]nibir2011[/nom]Are You out of your mind since when iphones were faster than galaxy. And iphone dont even support multitasking[/citation]
The iPhone has had multitasking since iOS 4. And even before iOS 4 it had multitasking, but it was limited to certain application that came included in the OS.

 

[ashinms]

How long til we see blackberry10 on mars?

 

[JeTJL]

Didn't Samsung launch it's Galaxy Phones into Near Space Already?

 

[eddieroolz]

I'm sure Google will be tapping the connection of this satellite!