Astronomers are to conduct various space experiments with Samsung Electronics’ Nexus S Android smartphones carried by the space shuttle Atlantis.

Atlantis docked the International Space Station on Sunday after it was launched Friday as the final flight of the U.S. shuttle program.
 

Samsung smart phones are to perform various tasks ranging from measuring and inspecting ISS along with a small satellite called SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites).

With the Nexus S smartphones plugged into SPHERES, astronauts can carry out maintenance tasks such as running inventories by remote-controlling the satellite.

“With a smartphone, the SPHERES will have a built-in camera to take pictures and video, sensors to help conduct inspections, a powerful computing unit to make calculations, and a Wi-Fi connection that we will use to transfer data in real-time to the space station and mission control,” added DW Wheeler, the lead engineer of NASA’s Intelligent Robotics Group.

Nexus S smart phones run Google’s Android operating system, equipped with four-inch super AMOLED, Near Field Communication function, 5 million-pixel camera and gyroscope sensors.

A head of Samsung Electronics Samsung Telecommunications America Corporation, Son, Dae-il hailed the launch as Samsung smartphones are sent on the last space shuttle mission, marking a historical moment.

By Jung Eun-jung
(kristin2j@gmail.com)
Intern reporter