Apr 22 2013

From The Space Library

RELEASE: 13-107 - NASA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES THREE SMARTPHONE SATELLITES --WASHINGTON -- Three smartphones destined to become low-cost satellites rode to space Sunday aboard the maiden flight of Orbital Science Corp.'s Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia. The trio of "PhoneSats" is operating in orbit, and may prove to be the lowest-cost satellites ever flown in space. The goal of NASA's PhoneSat mission is to determine whether a consumer-grade smartphone can be used as the main flight avionics of a capable, yet very inexpensive, satellite. Transmissions from all three PhoneSats have been received at multiple ground stations on Earth, indicating they are operating normally. The PhoneSat team at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., will continue to monitor the satellites in the coming days. The satellites are expected to remain in orbit for as long as two weeks. It's always great to see a space technology mission make it to orbit -- the high frontier is the ultimate testing ground for new and innovative space technologies of the future, said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington. Smartphones offer a wealth of potential capabilities for flying small, low-cost, powerful satellites for atmospheric or Earth science, communications, or other space-born applications. They also may open space to a whole new generation of commercial, academic and citizen-space users. Satellites consisting mainly of the smartphones will send information about their health via radio back to Earth in an effort to demonstrate they can work as satellites in space. The spacecraft also will attempt to take pictures of Earth using their cameras. Amateur radio operators around the world can participate in the mission by monitoring transmissions and retrieving image data from the three satellites. Large images will be transmitted in small chunks and will be reconstructed through a distributed ground station network. More information can found at: NASA's off-the-shelf PhoneSats already have many of the systems needed for a satellite, including fast processors, versatile operating systems, multiple miniature sensors, high-resolution cameras, GPS receivers and several radios. NASA engineers kept the total cost of the components for the three prototype satellites in the PhoneSat project between $3,500 and $7,000 by using primarily commercial hardware and keeping the design and mission objectives to a minimum. The hardware for this mission is the Google-HTC Nexus One smartphone running the Android operating system. NASA added items a satellite needs that the smartphones do not have -- a larger, external lithium-ion battery bank and a more powerful radio for messages it sends from space. The smartphone's ability to send and receive calls and text messages has been disabled. Each smartphone is housed in a standard cubesat structure, measuring about 4 inches square. The smartphone acts as the satellite's onboard computer. Its sensors are used for attitude determination and its camera for Earth observation.

RELEASE: 13-113 - NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, WHITE SANDS EARN EPA 'GREEN' HONORS --HOUSTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized NASA's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M., and Johnson Space Center in Houston as Federal Green Challenge National Award winners. White Sands received the National Award for Overall Achievement for outstanding efforts in 2012 to advance sustainability efforts and its leadership in reducing the environmental footprint of federal government activities. In 2012, concrete and asphalt debris piles were safely recycled into 10,712 tons of reusable materials, said Michael Jones, environmental project manager at White Sands. "As an alternative to purchasing new road base materials, WSTF now has reusable resources for future projects," This truly was a team effort between the White Sands facilities engineering, environmental and safety organizations." Johnson was recognized for the highest progress over the previous year. The center increased municipal solid waste composted from 16 tons in 2011 to 250 tons in 2012, which represents a 1,449-percent improvement. Johnson grounds contractor ProDyn EPES LLC of Annapolis, Md. is responsible for the compost pile. Through our composting program, we no longer need to purchase mulch and compost, we don't have to pay to get rid of yard debris, and we're reducing greenhouse gas emissions-- it's a win-win situation all around, said Michelle Fraser-Page, recycling manager at Johnson. "We're thrilled to be recognized by the EPA for our efforts to increase sustainability." These achievements were made while participating in the Federal Green Challenge, a national effort under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program. It challenges federal agencies to lead by example in reducing environmental impact. Federal agencies are recognized for outstanding efforts that go beyond regulatory compliance and strive for annual improvements in selected areas. It's amazing what can be accomplished when incredible people at all levels work together to make something happen, said Joel Walker, Johnson's director of center operations. In 2012, about 300 federal facilities, representing 500,000 federal employees, reduced their environmental footprint in several target areas, resulting in an estimated combined cost savings of more than $31 million.