STRaND-1: World's first "phonesat", successfully launched into orbit from India.
Developed by the Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, STRaND-1
is training and demonstration mission 3U
CubeSat measuring (10cm x 30cm) and weighing
4.3 kg.
We learn that the satellite flies a Google Nexus
One smartphone, a new Linux-based high-speed processor and attitude & orbit
control system, and two novel propulsion systems (8 pulsed plasma thrusters and
a water-alcohol propulsion system).
The goal here is to test commercial
off-the-shelf technologies in space.
‘’During the first phase of the
mission, STRaND-1 will be controlled by the satellite's attitude control system
and a new high-speed linux-based CubeSat computer. During phase two the
STRaND-1 team plans to switch many of the satellite's in-orbit operations to
the smartphone, a Google Nexus One which uses the Android operating system,
thereby testing the capabilities of many standard smartphone components for a
space environment.’’ reported the press release.
In addition STRaND-1 includes new
technologies such as a 'WARP DRiVE' (Water Alcohol Resistojet Propulsion Deorbit
Re-entry Velocity Experiment) and electric Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPTs). The
WARP DRiVE propulsion system is designed to deorbit the satellite at the end of
its useful lifetime.
The Apps on board STRaND-1: iTesa : to record the magnitude of the magnetic field around the phone during orbit. (Detecting Alfven waves (magnetic oscillations in our upper atmosphere).
The STRAND Data app: to show satellite telemetry on the smartphone's display. This aims to enable new graphical telemetry to interpret trends.
The 360 app: to take images using the smartphone's camera and use the technology onboard the spacecraft to establish STRaND-1's position.
The Apps on board STRaND-1: iTesa : to record the magnitude of the magnetic field around the phone during orbit. (Detecting Alfven waves (magnetic oscillations in our upper atmosphere).
The STRAND Data app: to show satellite telemetry on the smartphone's display. This aims to enable new graphical telemetry to interpret trends.
The 360 app: to take images using the smartphone's camera and use the technology onboard the spacecraft to establish STRaND-1's position.
Therefore the public will be able to request their own unique satellite image of
Earth through the website: to show where they have been acquired.
The Scream in Space app: developed by Cambridge University Space Flight :
to make full use of the smartphone's speakers. (Testing the theory 'in space
no-one can hear you scream, made popular in the 1979 film 'Alien', the app will
play videos of the best screams while in orbit and screams will be recorded
using the smartphone's own microphone.) www.screaminspace.com.
