Google Send Nexus S to Space to Test Android Gingerbread

Posted on Dec 26 2010 - 4:36pm by Richard Sharp

Google has taken their Flagship Nexus S Smartphone, which sports the latest Android Gingerbread 2.3 to new heights – making the Nexus S their first Smartphone to go into outer space. In total seven devices were sent on a mission where no other smartphone had gone before, thankfully some Android Robots went along for the ride, all of which can be seen in the highlights reel below.

The whole exercise was all about quality control as Google wanted to test how the device would function, engineers tested Google Maps and Google Sky Maps for accuracy and function. Other practical tests involved the phones in-built Gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer.

The results were impressive with the Nexus S functioning at full capacity in temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius. The Nexus S test subjects soared to an impressive 100,000 feet recording data on its ascent that took an average of 2 hours 40 minutes. The devices functioned up to 60,000 feet but the rigs continued to climb at speeds up to 139MPH before the balloons burst sending the phones, rigs and Android passengers hurtling back to earth.

Google confirmed that they located all of the rigs but sadly the robots were nowhere to be found – perhaps they were abducted by aliens, the moment of decent is shown on the video. We actually felt sorry for the little guys!

What do you think about the experiment, do the results impress you enough to buy a Nexus S?

Source: Google Blogspot

2 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Turdoch December 26, 2010 at 11:03 pm - Reply

    Not the first smartphone to do this. See Youtube for Father adn son who sent iPhone 3GS on similar trip.

  2. paul December 26, 2010 at 11:06 pm - Reply

    Cool videos. I see what you mean, the moment the Android goes flying is tragic.

    @Turdoch – the article says it's Google's first smartphone to go into space. Your video of the 3GS is pretty cool too.

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