STRaND-1
STRaND-1
Nanosatellite
STRaND-1 (Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator 1) is a failed 3U CubeSat developed by Surrey University's Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL). The 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) nanosatellite was launched into orbit on board a PSLV Rocket from India on February 25, 2013,[1][2] Smartphones have flown in space before inside the International Space Station, and the computer from a PDA launched inside two Japanese CubeSats in 2006 and 2008.[3]
STRaND-1 initially operated with a conventional CubeSat computer before it was supposed to be switched over to an on-board Android-based Nexus One smartphone, but the conventional computer stopped communicating before the switch-over could start.[3] As a result, NASA's PhoneSats (Alexander, Graham and Bell) were the first smartphone satellites to work in space,[3] despite having been launched two months later than STRaND-1.[3]
The satellite was found broadcasting telemetry again in June 2013, after a two-month silence.[4] There are no reports of any instrument being turned on.