Smartphone Sent into Space
- 11 years ago
A smartphone is sent into space.
Research scientists from the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology have launched a satellite from India carrying a Google Nexus One smartphone into space.
While in orbit, the smartphone will test how durable commercial products can be in space, along with a host of new technologies and theories being tested, including whether the smartphone can drive the satellite.
The phone will play several sounds of people screaming that were submitted online to the team of scientists, including a group of elementary school students screaming at the top of their lungs.
The videos of the screams will be played to see if the smartphone speakers pick up the noise, testing the theory that sound can’t travel in space since there are no molecules to pick up the vibrations and carry the sound.
This is the first space mission where a smartphone has been placed in orbit.
The satellite will also test two new propulsion systems; one that uses the ejection of a mixture of water and alcohol to provide propulsion, and another that uses pulsed plasma thrusters to manipulate the magnetic field of the satellite and change its direction.
The satellite will be in our planet’s orbit for six months.
Research scientists from the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology have launched a satellite from India carrying a Google Nexus One smartphone into space.
While in orbit, the smartphone will test how durable commercial products can be in space, along with a host of new technologies and theories being tested, including whether the smartphone can drive the satellite.
The phone will play several sounds of people screaming that were submitted online to the team of scientists, including a group of elementary school students screaming at the top of their lungs.
The videos of the screams will be played to see if the smartphone speakers pick up the noise, testing the theory that sound can’t travel in space since there are no molecules to pick up the vibrations and carry the sound.
This is the first space mission where a smartphone has been placed in orbit.
The satellite will also test two new propulsion systems; one that uses the ejection of a mixture of water and alcohol to provide propulsion, and another that uses pulsed plasma thrusters to manipulate the magnetic field of the satellite and change its direction.
The satellite will be in our planet’s orbit for six months.