Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) is launching a spacecraft carries a perfectly ordinary phone, which will take photographs and may even take over the vehicle.
Known initially for creating and flying cheap satellites that punch above their weight, the University of Surrey spin-out has gone on to develop increasingly sophisticated vehicles, and is now owned by satellite multi-national EADS Astrium.
The phone satellite is STRaND-1 (Surrey training, research and nanosatellite demonstrator), and is a joint venture with the Surrey Space Centre, which is based at the University.
"When we came to the Surrey Space Centre with the idea of flying a smartphone they had the expertise and innovative satellite subsystems to complete our design," said project manager Shaun Kenyon.
And the phone is not the entire point of the mission, added Kenyon: "The operation of the smartphone is really just the icing on the cake to what is already an incredibly advanced satellite."
The as yet un-named phone cost under £300 and runs Google's Android operating system.
From STRaND-1, SSTL expects to discover which phone components are reliable in space, and if there are advantages in having an open operating system.
"Smartphones pack lots of components, such as sensors, video cameras, GPS systems and Wi-Fi radios, that are technologically advanced but a fraction of the size, weight and cost of components used in existing satellite systems," said the project's lead researcher Dr Chris Bridges. "And because many smartphones also run on free operating systems that lend themselves to online software developers, the creators of apps for smartphones could feasibly develop apps for satellites."
The team's expertise in commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components in space, and extensive ground testing, have identified the phone as a realistic candidate for the mission.
Once the spacecraft is launched, a computer built to a know space-worthy design by the Surrey Space Centre will fly the satellite and further test the phone.
As confidence is established in the phone, it will gradually be allowed to assume control over more sub-systems until it is running the spacecraft.
Images and messages from the phone will be sent back to Earth via an external radio link.
"If a smartphone can be proved to work in space, it opens up lots of new technologies to a multitude of people and companies for space who usually can't afford it. It's a real game-changer for the industry," added Bridges.
The satellite, which weighs only 4kg, also incorporates guidance, navigation and control systems - including miniature reaction wheels - and a GPS receiver.
Also on board and under evaluation, said SSTL spokesman Robin Wolstenholme, are pulse plasma manoeuvring thrusters.
Although SSTL is most unlikely to use phones in commercial projects, the University's Space Centre aims to get data that will be of use in the CubeSat community - CubeSats are simple 10x10x10cm satellites that follow a specification cheap enough for Universities to meet.
"STRaND-1 is a nanosat rather than a [smaller] cubesat," said Wolstenholme. "The use of a mobile phone as an off-the-shelf computer for CubeSats is attractive. "The mobile phone could run the satellite and you could develop apps for the phone."
But won't they want to use space-rated components?
"The academic community has so little money that, if it works, they will fly it," said Wolstenholme.
Phones could one day add communication within satellite clusters - SSTL was a pioneer of clusters.
"Going forward to future satellites, could you use Wi-Fi from a phone to talk to other satellites?," asked Wolstenholme.
Earlier collaboration between the University and SSTL include UoSAT missions in the 1990's, and SNAP-1 in 2000.
"It's planned that STRaND-1 will be the first of many collaborative STRaND satellites between the University and SSTL," said Doug Liddle, SSTL's head of science. "This provides a tangible means for the two groups to share capabilities, develop key skills and work with advanced commercial technology in space. With the whole satellite costing less than a family car, it's exciting to see how the team have managed to create a satellite with such incredible performance."
