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Jan 25, 2011

British Satellites Will Beam Info Down From Space Using Android Smartphones

The communication components in smartphones and satellites aren't all that different, except that satellite guts are better rated for external factors like temperature and impact. But one British aerospace firm wants to see how well a smartphone fares in space.

Wired says that the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited are working together to create a satellite, dubbed the STRAND-1, which uses the internals from a commercial Android smartphone to handle all the communication and control, transmitting photos of Earth while it's in orbit.

The researchers are excited by the possibility of using smartphone internals because they cost a fraction of what aerospace-grade components would cost. The satellite, which is 11.8 inches long and weighs under 10 pounds, will initially have an on-board computer that monitors the smartphone components and make sure everything is functioning as it should. If all goes to plan, the satellite will go into orbit sometime this year.

19 comments:

SpydaRaff said...

damn pretty sick i gotta get off t mobile lol

Leo said...

Tell em to come at me bro
http://simplykidleo.blogspot.com/

So Gru said...

That's pretty fuckin' neato.

http://superhappygru.blogspot.com/

Les said...

This would be a boon for the space industries. Why spend millions developing the technology when a smartphone can do it just as well?

Anonymous said...

Hmm...Angry Birds in space?

Vapor said...

If it works it will be great!

beyondhiphop said...

makes alot of sense to me

TheDude748 said...

Wow, this is really cool. I wonder what sort of shielding you'd need to keep that stuff safe

Rabidmoose said...

Sounds interesting I'll have to keep tabs on that.

Isaac said...

Damn got beaten to the angry birds comments

Unknown said...

That's pretty nifty. Next they'll be beaming info to watches and then directly to brains. I'm ok with it as long as they beam DirecTV to my brain.

SDG said...

Further proof that making a phone call will one day be an app you have to download.

Doo said...

Thanks pretty sick!

Rebecca said...

cool

Everything_man said...

SKYNET.

it's coming to a phone near you.

Zach said...

Good work.
evanztories.blogspot.com
ducks2nucks.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

When they say fraction them mean 0.1%

Sam said...

Don't think it;s gonna happen in the near future

Al Frances said...

Unlikely to happen in the near future, but could be a new dawn of technology.