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iPod iPod in Space - NASA Astronaut Jose Hernandez

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AstroJoseFan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 2, 2009
10
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Take a look at this picture! NASA STS128 Astronaut Jose Hernandez working out in space with an iPod! Cool! Is this the next Apple iPod Ad? Steve Jobs, hook-up Jose Hernandez with an upgrade...iPod touch or better ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVXU5tLKzs8

at time = 1:20
 

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    ipod in space jose hernandez.png
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Steve Jobs...ask Jose Hernandez to display it at the Mothership ;-)

silhouette...cool idea! Steve Jobs...Ask Astronaut Jose to sign it and display it at the Mothership! It will be the first iPod used in zero G!
 
That's pretty cool, but I think it was annoying him when it was swinging back and forth, and almost into his face. :p
 
Unfortunately, a piece of bad news: NASA will NOT allow an "off the shelf" iPod on a manned spaceflight. The reason is simple: the battery used on the current iPod models is a lithium-ion battery, which can be a potential fire hazard if it shorts out, not a good idea in the confines of a spacecraft or space station!

Note that Hernandez's iPod has a BIG battery pack strapped to the iPod--that battery pack probably uses a more fire-safe, but much lower storage capacity battery design, and NASA probably highly modified the iPod to disable the internal lithium-ion battery in favor of being powered by this special battery.
 
AstroJoseFan said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP-fKMga6hs
Click to expand...

Great video. Featured in article:
http://obamapacman.com/2009/10/astr...asa-approved-video-and-inspired-parody-tv-ad/
=)

NXTMIKE said:
That's pretty cool, but I think it was annoying him when it was swinging back and forth, and almost into his face. :p
Click to expand...

Yeah it'll be funny at the genius bar:

Hi, I like to get new headphones.
What happened to these?
Oh, I was exercising on the space shuttle...


SactoGuy18 said:
Unfortunately, a piece of bad news: NASA will NOT allow an "off the shelf" iPod on a manned spaceflight. The reason is simple: the battery used on the current iPod models is a lithium-ion battery, which can be a potential fire hazard if it shorts out, not a good idea in the confines of a spacecraft or space station!

Note that Hernandez's iPod has a BIG battery pack strapped to the iPod--that battery pack probably uses a more fire-safe, but much lower storage capacity battery design, and NASA probably highly modified the iPod to disable the internal lithium-ion battery in favor of being powered by this special battery.
Click to expand...

Wow, interpretation fail.

Quote ABC News: "lithium batteries were taken out and replaced with alkaline double-As that are certified to fly on the shuttle."

They did not say lithium batteries are unsafe. It just means NASA have better things to do than spending millions of dollars to certify lithium batteries for the space shuttle.

If you ever worked on a government contract you would understand. ;)
 
Consultant said:
Quote ABC News: "lithium batteries were taken out and replaced with alkaline double-As that are certified to fly on the shuttle."

They did not say lithium batteries are unsafe. It just means NASA have better things to do than spending millions of dollars to certify lithium batteries for the space shuttle.
Click to expand...

Remember the debacle with lithium-ion laptop batteries catching on fire a few years ago? It's that very issue that has prevented the use of "off the shelf" iPods on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. NASA could provide the "6.5G" iPod classic (120/160 GB version) for space use, but they'll have to modify it to replace the internal lithium ion battery pack with an external alkaline battery pack.
 
SactoGuy18 said:
Remember the debacle with lithium-ion laptop batteries catching on fire a few years ago? It's that very issue that has prevented the use of "off the shelf" iPods on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. NASA could provide the "6.5G" iPod classic (120/160 GB version) for space use, but they'll have to modify it to replace the internal lithium ion battery pack with an external alkaline battery pack.
Click to expand...

That is very different, and has NOTHING to do with iPods.

That was a batch of bad laptop batteries. Even with those defective batteries, you are more likely to get hit by lightening than have a device catch on fire.

NOWHERE did NASA said it's unsafe. Just because you think so doesn't mean anything in the real world. You really need some lessons in probabilities.

Obviously you never deal with anything with government procurement. Again, it costs millions of dollars to certify a technology. Would you spend millions of dollars and years to certify a battery if they can hack with with an older battery?
 
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