Smartphone Nanosat will be onboard an Indian rocket as part of multiple payload set to launch on Monday, according to Universe Today article. "STRaND-1 [Surrey Training, Research, and Nanosatellite Demonstrator] is a 30cm cubesat weighing 3.5kg. At the heart of the satellite is a Google Nexus One smartphone with an Android operating system. Smartphones are highly advanced and incorporate several key features that are integral to a satellite such as cameras, radio links, accelerometers and high performance computer processors - almost everything except solar panels and propulsion. During the first phase of the mission, STRaND-1 will use a number a number of experimental Apps to collect data while a new high-speed linux-based cubesat computer developed by SSC takes care of the satellite. During phase two, the STRaND team hope to switch the satellite's in-orbit operations to the smartphone, thereby testing the capabilities of a number of standard smartphone components for a space environment," summarizes mission statement at Surrey Satellite Technology LTD. It's an interesting mission with unusual goal of to test adage, whether anyone could actually hear you if you screamed out in space? Yes, that's correct! There was even a competition for ten best screams! The nanosat falls into cubesat category and measures about a foot long and weighs less than 8 lbs - if you're wondering? You can drop below fold for another video that describes individual components.
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