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Booga1 [soylentnews.org] writes:

Raspberry Pi computers are speeding to the International Space Station [raspberrypi.org].

This morning, our two new Astro Pi units launched into space. Actual, real-life space. The new Astro Pi units each consist of [raspberrypi.org] 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 [astro-pi.org].

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 [youtube.com].

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

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