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Raspberry Pi Headed to the International Space Station

posted by martyb on Wednesday December 22 2021, @07:18AM   Printer-friendly
from the where-no-pi-has-gone-before dept.

Booga1 writes:

Raspberry Pi computers are speeding to the International Space Station.

This morning, our two new Astro Pi units launched into space. Actual, real-life space. The new Astro Pi units each consist of a Raspberry Pi computer with a Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera and a host of sensors, all housed inside a special space-ready case that makes the hardware suitable for the International Space Station (ISS).

Today's launch is the culmination of a huge piece of work we've done for the European Space Agency to get the new Astro Pi units ready to become part of the European Astro Pi Challenge.

After lift-off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the new Astro Pi units are currently travelling on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon 2 spacecraft, the module atop the rocket. You can watch the launch again here.

The article has plenty of photos and links to more information about the projects planned for the pocket-sized computers.

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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday December 22 2021, @03:20PM (2 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday December 22 2021, @03:20PM (#1207096) Journal

    From TFA...

    Young people’s code will run on the new Astro Pi units next year — is yours on board?

    [....] Young people can take part in Astro Pi Mission Zero right now! Mission Zero is a beginners’ coding activity for all young people under the age of 19 in ESA member and associate states. It gives them the chance to write code to show their own message to the astronauts on board the ISS using the Astro Pi units. And this time, Mission Zero participants can also vote to name the new Astro Pi units!

    A problem I foresee is that people under age 19 won't think to build an Altair 8800 emulator project for the Pi.

    They will have difficulty deciding which programming language [linuxize.com] to use.

    --
    Young people won't believe you if you say you're older than Google. (born before 1998-09-03)

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by Freeman on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:20PM (1 child)

      by Freeman (732) on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:20PM (#1207119) Journal

      Snake on the station is more likely. https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/codeclub/python-module-1 [raspberrypi.org]

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

      • (Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:26PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:26PM (#1207125) Journal

        Coming soon: Snakes On A Space Station!

        Oh my!

        --
        Young people won't believe you if you say you're older than Google. (born before 1998-09-03)

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 22 2021, @03:21PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 22 2021, @03:21PM (#1207097)

    I mean, the project is cool, so don't get me wrong, but this is yet another public outreach or "science" for schools effort. Which in and of themselves are fine and laudable endeavors that I strongly support, but it is depressing that after billions of dollars and decades of effort, this is basically the best demonstrated use case for a space station. They spend all their effort selling the platform by explaining what a unique and outstanding research platform this is, and there is very little unique research to be done beyond science fair experiments or finding out whether ants can be trained to sort tiny screws in space.

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:22PM

      by Freeman (732) on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:22PM (#1207120) Journal

      'eh, this is a good outreach program. It's not a good reason to have or to keep the Space Station, but certainly not harmful to support, while the ISS exists.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by DannyB on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:25PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday December 22 2021, @04:25PM (#1207123) Journal

      It was like this:

      • The Space Shuttle needed a reason to exist. It had the similar problem of needing a justification to exist considering how vastly expensive it was. Now it did have unique capabilities, such as servicing the Hubble.
      • The Space Station was a great solution. Now there was a place for the Space Shuttle to go.
      • Reason for the Shuttle to be funded: to service the space station!
      • Reason for the Space Station to be funded: as a destination for the space shuttle!

      (it's not circular reasoning, it's what bureaucrats call 'no loose ends')

      --
      Young people won't believe you if you say you're older than Google. (born before 1998-09-03)
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