iPods rock the Space Shuttle

Update 11/16/2008: Welcome Digg visitors. While there may be iPods on the current STS-126 mission, these photos & the blog post are actually from the March 2008 mission.

Eagle-eyed reader Walker was perusing hi-res photos of the Space Shuttle Endeavour (which is circling the planet at this moment, docked to the International Space Station in low-earth orbit) when he spotted an iPod through the crew cabin window. It's a massively cool find and we thought you'd like to know it's not the first time an iPod has braved the 3G hurtle into space.

When the unmanned Jules Verne spacecraft launched earlier this month for its historic docking with the ISS, it took along several commemorative items, including an iPod containing a special list of songs chosen by the winner of a 2007 contest.

STS crew member Leland Melvin went to the ISS last month aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, and he took along an iPod pre-loaded with his favorite Christina McBride album and a few songs he'd composed on the piano.

For Charlie Hobaugh's flight last year, he let his kids load his iPod for him. (Wow, that's trusting -- he could have spent the 13-day mission listening to Alvin & the Chipmunks).

Getting an iPod into space isn't easy. The lithium batteries have to be replaced with specially certified alkaline batteries. Once docked, crew members can't bring them on board the Space Station, however, since they haven't been certified as safe in that environment.

Your iPod may never make it to outer space, but if you want to protect it on your daily land-based EVAs, why not wrap it in a piece of history? Get a case from everQuest Design that's made from a piece of the Soyuz parachute. From one space geek to another, I ask you: how cool is that?

Thanks Walker!

iPod Endeavour

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Source: http://www.nasa.gov/

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iPod Family Odds and ends

Update 11/16/2008: Welcome Digg visitors. While there may be iPods on the current STS-126 mission, these photos & the blog post are...

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craig

Even more orbital ipod usage http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/216957main_s123e005105_hires.jpg .

NASA really need to splash out for some decent speakers though.

March 22 2008 at 7:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jim Gleeson

Who says that the iPod wouldn't go 3G?

March 17 2008 at 10:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Keith Cowing

This news was first posted last week (before TUAW) on NASA Watch and SpaceRef at http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2008/03/which_one_of_yo.html

March 17 2008 at 9:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Keith Cowing

This news was first posted last week (before TUAW) on NASA Watch and SpaceRef at http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2008/03/which_one_of_yo.html

March 17 2008 at 9:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Weakly

A billion dollar spacecraft orbiting the planet earth and you're looking at an MP3 player.

March 16 2008 at 6:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Daniel

Of course, iPod lost in space is not covered under warranty. *lol*

Daniel
http://www.palluxo.com

March 15 2008 at 5:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Aaron

So with the alkaline battery, I guess they can't recharge the iPod once it runs out? Why not replace the lithium battery with a NiMH?

March 15 2008 at 4:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jeremiah Moon

Hopefully it's not the last time apple braves the 3g hurtle.

March 15 2008 at 4:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Cleve

this waslifted from last weeks 9to5mac.com

March 15 2008 at 3:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Cleve's comment

Lisa Hoover

No, actually it wasn't. It was sent into TUAW's tip line by Walker, though the picture has been turning up on lots of Web sites since NASA released it a couple days ago.

Thanks for reading!

Lisa

March 15 2008 at 3:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Cleve

Only difference is that they quote their sources.

March 15 2008 at 6:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lisa Hoover

I, too, thought I've read/seen iPods on the ISS. Here's where I sourced the info I included in the post but I'd be happy to check with KSC Media Relations on Monday morning and let everyone know the deal.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4450259&page=1

March 15 2008 at 2:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply