Exploring space is an expensive proposition, but perhaps it doesn't have to be that way. That's the thinking behind NASA's PhoneSat
program, which successfully launched three cell phones into space April
21, with the goal of using them as inexpensive satellites. Earth's newest satellites cost no more than $7,000 each, and can go as low as $3,500 depending on how they are configured. For this mission, the satellites comprise modified Google-HTC Nexus One smart phones running the Android operating system. They have been equipped with protective cages, high-capacity batteries and a new transmitting antenna. This all fits within a four-inch cube. Additionally, the phone's ability to receive and transmit calls and text messages has been disabled.
"Smart phones offer a wealth of potential capabilities for flying small, low-cost, powerful satellites for atmospheric or Earth science, communications or other space-born applications," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington, D.C.
The launch is being used as a technology demonstration program, to see if standard off-the-shelf smart phones can be modified to work in space. As such, the phones on this mission have been programmed to transmit a variety of data types to see what works and what needs more work. The phones are even trying to use their standard on-board cameras to take pictures of the Earth in sections, which will be stitched together into a one large image.
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