Final Space Shuttle Lifts Off With Two iPhones Aboard

[steveh]

Would GPS work? Isn't the ISS in a higher orbit, so above the GPS satellites?

The GPS constellations orbits much higher than ISS, around 20,200km up.

 

[tonyshucraft]

the real question that need be asked is if it is Verizon or At&t

 

[malnar]

TBH I think that the inclusion of the Android (conveniently, erm, left out of the MR summary) and iPhone is a cheap attempt to get some media/popular interest in the NASA programme - I'm sure that all of these experiments could have been done better with an Atmel AVR, TI OMAP or Altera eval board and some sensors. But whatever. The application for these apps sounds rather contrived.

I think you're partially correct, that it's just a PR stunt. But it could also be to test how rugged common commercial products are, since part of NASA's new direction will be utilizing commercial means. But, mostly, I do think it's an attention getter - "hey, look, cool phones in space!" This is likely the biggest space launch NASA has had in ages and will have for years. They wanted to take advantage of it. I'm surprised they couldn't get Coke to advertise all over the external tank.

 

[jacollins]

So, they aren't ever going to go to Space again or what? I bet they will build new shuttles instead of Atlantis in the future.

No, it's the end of the US manned space program. There is no replacement. Odds are you'll never see another manned launch by NASA ever again. It's all going to either be foreign countries or private. Most likely foreign countries.

 

[jlgolson]

At the altitude they are operating, GPS has an entirely different set of calibrations. Curious of the makers of the GPS chip-set

took that into consideration when designing it.

The definitely did because GPS is mainly designed to be used by the military, including ICBM's which fly very high indeed.

 

[MrSmith]

The only thing that picture is missing is a "God Bless America".

 

[iMaconApple]

I wonder if the iPhones are jailbroken..use graviboard I bet it will get confuse in zero gravity

 

[kdarling]

GPS scrambling has been deactivated for years. There's nothing to stop the iPhone from getting a proper GPS signal, except for it not expecting to be miles up.

I wasn't talking about Selective Availability.

There was a Federal requirement that GPS sold in the US cannot display or output info above the limits I quoted, even if they know that info perfectly.

I suppose the prohibition made a lot more sense 15 years ago before GPS chips were commonplace. It might even be gone now... not sure.

At the altitude they are operating, GPS has an entirely different set of calibrations. Curious of the makers of the GPS chip-set

took that into consideration when designing it.

Yes. Interestingly, other satellites have used GPS for position information.

 

[JonBean]

The Shuttle program has been dead for quite some time. They are starting to fall apart and the technology is beyond dated.

The US space program is dead because NASA has been on a maintenance diet for years. Everybody flocked to the Cape for todays launch but they'll all go home tomorrow to continue bitching about their government. Meanwhile they can all rest easy knowing that the Russians will help us with our quest for space. Our astronauts are now officially hitchhikers.

 

[nvbrit]

No, it's the end of the US manned space program. There is no replacement. Odds are you'll never see another manned launch by NASA ever again. It's all going to either be foreign countries or private. Most likely foreign countries.

You may want to check your facts, the Orion MPCV is already being built and the prototype model already in early testing. This is a NASA vehicle and will be used for future manned space flight into deep space.

 

[Rot'nApple]

According to Android Central, there are a few Nexus S phones on board too.

http://www.androidcentral.com/nexus-s-hitching-ride-back-space-final-shuttle-flight

Was watching one of the 24 cable networks and as they reported the news of the launch, they had a side note of what was carried into space in prior missions and mentioned that on this mission they were taking up some iPhones.

I feel for 3rd party Android devices (not really) that have become so unnoticeable thanks to the throngs of various models and not one out shines the others that they are lumped in to iPhone status, cuz, when you say iPhone, there is nothing else left to say! That's my theory, what's yours?
/
/
/

 

[jacollins]

You may want to check your facts, the Orion MPCV is already being built and the prototype model already in early testing. This is a NASA vehicle and will be used for future manned space flight into deep space.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for that to be the solution. I just see it as highly unlikely. It's so far in the future, in my opinion, it's pretty much guaranteed to be cancelled with all the budget problems the US is having. Plus, NASA's reportedly got major brain drain of its scientists since they have no solution on the horizon with the shuttle being cancelled. They're going to be going to private companies or foreign countries.

 

[firewood]

Actually, GPS works fine at those speeds.

The problem would more likely be 1990s US federal law, which prohibits civilian GPS units from displaying information above 1,000mph or 60,000 feet... except in special experimental circumstances (and I doubt Apple modified these units' code).

GPS theoretically works at those speeds, and does so in some mil grade GPS devices. However, since it is illegal for consumer devices to output any info saying they are actually working at those speeds or altitudes, the chips used in consumer GPS products are unlikely to be designed or tested to actually be able to keep up with the GPS calculations under those conditions.

Math overflow error. Thus possibly reducing potential iPhone sales to certain North Korean and Iranian government contractors.

 

[AidenShaw]

GPS theoretically works at those speeds, and does so in some mil grade GPS devices. However, since it is illegal for consumer devices to output any info saying they are actually working at those speeds or altitudes, the chips used in consumer GPS products are unlikely to be designed or tested to actually be able to keep up with the GPS calculations under those conditions.

For what it's worth, my Microsoft GPS (rebadged Pharos iGPS-500 SiRFstar III unit) is reliable at 1000 km/h and 12 km altitude - locks quickly and tracks.

 

[HelveticaRoman]

As long as they aren't using Shuttle Mission Pro X.

 

[RalfTheDog]

To be fair to OP, he did cancel its replacement.

The Ares was canceled because they could not keep it from shaking it's self apart.

Yeah, there are a ton of 14k mountains around these parts and I've been up a few of them with an iphone. Needless to say it works just fine.

Until the battery explodes. It might be ok, but I don't think it is rated for that altitude.

there is still a replacement, it's called the Orion MPCV; there's already prototype models and early testing has already begun and will continue. The difference is, it's a capsule and not a shuttle.

Unfortunatly, we don't have a rocket to put it on.

You may want to check your facts, the Orion MPCV is already being built and the prototype model already in early testing. This is a NASA vehicle and will be used for future manned space flight into deep space.

With Ares scrapped, do they have plans for a replacement rocket?

 

[reticulate]

With Ares scrapped, do they have plans for a replacement rocket?

The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System is NASA's new rocket for the Orion.

It's much cheaper to develop and build than Ares as it's largely derived from the shuttle launcher.

Further, there's the Falcon 9 - which is only a year or so off being man-rated for use with Dragon.

 

[twoodcc]

that's cool that 2 iPhones got on the last shuttle. you don't hear about droids on there!

 

[Heijtink]

wont work

It probably wont work. Apple says that the operation environment should not exceed operating altitude of 10,000 feet.

 

[Heijtink]

For peace treaty

The iPhone will probably used as a propitiation.

EARTH: We come in peace [holding the iPhone out as gift]
ALIEN: What is this?
EARTH: A magical peace of technology which enables you to can make phone calls, visit the internet, read your e-mails, listen to music. On earth it only weighs 4.8 ounces!
ALIAN: It doesn't work
EARTH: Oh yeah, well, you do need a signal from AT&T or Verizon. It really is a down to earth phone.
ALIAN: Thanks! [throws it away]

And the world is save for another 471 years.

 

[yorkshire]

It's sad that the program is coming to an end. In much the same way as when Concorde was scrapped, I feel this is a huge step back for mankind.

 

[jonnysods]

Good luck not having any dropped calls up there.

 

[tigress666]

Probably not. The reusable-ship method turned out to be costlier than originally planned. It's likely that future missions will use more disposable parts. So...not "shuttles."

Actually, read this article:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/nasa/6-false-lessons-of-the-space-shuttle

The first myth they discuss is the idea that re-usable shuttles are not a good idea. An excerpt:

1. The Shuttle Proved That Reusable Launch Vehicles are Not Cost Effective

This is a pernicious myth‚ one that has driven NASA policy for years, since the failure of the X-33 program and through former NASA head Mike Griffin's policy of reverting to expendable systems with the now-canceled Constellation program. But the reality is that the shuttle taught us nothing about the cost of a properly designed, fully reusable launch system, because that's not what it was.

The external tank was thrown away on each flight, and the solid rocket boosters had to be rebuilt every mission. The only "reusable" part of the vehicle, the shuttle orbiter itself, required extensive inspection and maintenance between flights, with a vast army of technicians costing billions per year. These high costs and headaches were not the result of any intrinsic technical issues with reusable vehicles, but were caused by penny-pinching during development in the 1970s. Spending more then could have created a truly reusable vehicle later. But it is always easier to slash budgets now and let some future politician have to worry about operational costs down the road.

 

[Analog Kid]

If these phones survive a Soyuz landing, I never want to hear them called fragile again.

Would GPS work? Isn't the ISS in a higher orbit, so above the GPS satellites?

Yes, GPS will work just fine in space, at least until LightSquared activate their network... Much better actually, as long as you don't get too far from the planet-- most GPS errors are due to atmospheric distortion.

 

[iphonepiephone]

NASA likely had the tech in 2001, that iOS has yet to achieve. Why is this a big deal? It really isn't.