News TransOrbital and Hewlett Packard to Tackle the Moon

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by GreatOldOne, 17 Jul 2003.

  1. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

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    From Space.com:

    The first commercial mission to the Moon is taking the latest in hand-held computers with along for the ride.

    TrailBlazer, a lunar probe developed by the company TransOrbital in La Jolla, California, will use the Hewlett Packard iPAQ Pocket PC h5550 to communicate with ground controllers.

    "We're very excited to be onboard this first private mission to the Moon," said HP spokeswoman Dayna Fried of iPAQ's role in the TrailBlazer effort.

    HP's iPAQ h5550 contains a 400-megahertz processor and 128 megabytes of random access memory (RAM). Fried told SPACE.com that iPAQs are currently being used in TrailBlazer ground tests, with a single unit to provide web-based communications once the craft is in space.

    Dennis Laurie, TransOrbital president and CEO, told SPACE.com that it was the iPAQ's computing power, small size, standardized wireless communication platform, and web-based capabilities, which made it a good fit for the TrailBlazer spacecraft. "We wanted to do what we could to keep things fairly simple and straightforward, and by doing that reduce costs of the craft and its operation," he said.

    Full story here

    So - another marketing gimmick for HP - "iPaq, the only space rated PDA!". Mind you, using standardised parts does cut down on costs. Look at the Linix powered rocket, or the stuff Armadillo Airspace are doing.

    I like the idea of a server on the moon, though. The ultimate data-haven, located in the heavens! :D
     
    GreatOldOne, 17 Jul 2003
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  2. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    "Store your files where no hacker can reach, however if we have a hardware failure - you're ****ed."
     
    Guest-16, 17 Jul 2003
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  3. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

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    [Sarcasm]
    It'd never hapen, because they'll be using hyper reliable HP components, running the very finest software from Redmond...
    [/Sarcasm]

    :D

    Hey Phat - do you want the support contract for this? "That's one small step for man, one giant reboot for serverkind...."
     
    GreatOldOne, 17 Jul 2003
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  4. penski

    penski BodMod

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    Just sent that round here - our network mentor emailed back saying he found spyware on the site...just thought I'd mention it.

    *n
     
    penski, 17 Jul 2003
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  5. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

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    Spyware on Space.com? Never had a problem in the past...
     
    GreatOldOne, 17 Jul 2003
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  6. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    Classic!
     
    Atomic, 17 Jul 2003
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  7. CrOaKeR

    CrOaKeR Host warrior 4, Vengence!

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    <e.t> HP phone home!!! </e.t>


    c'mon, its gotta be funnier the second time....
     
    CrOaKeR, 17 Jul 2003
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