Angry Birds and iPad Blasting off to the International Space Station
It seems even the beauty of space isn't enough to distract astronauts from playing with Angry Birds.
Two Apple iPads are on the next resupply vehicle towards the International Space Station set for launch on October 30. A plush toy of Rovio's popular Angry Birds game will also join three Russian cosmonauts to the ISS.
The two iPads are strictly for entertainment purposes and will join other Apple devices like the iPod and iPhone on board the space station. The red Angry Bird plushie will help the cosmonauts know they've made it to zero-G by floating.
"The Russians are flying two iPads on the next Progress. They're going to be used for entertainment purposes only," NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries told collectSPACE.com.
The iPads are the first tablets to make it to space. The International Space Station has other laptop computers equipped. While these iPads are only for entertainment now, NASA scientists are looking for other ways to use the tablets in space.
"The [U.S. operating segment] folks in the station program are taking a look at a number of different tablets and kind of comparing and contrasting them. They are hoping to be able to fly one or more them next year, but as yet the evaluation is not complete," Humphries said.
The Angry Bird toy will be carried on board by cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov who will lift off in the Soyuz TMA-22 along with two crewmates Anatoli Ivanishin and Dan Burbank on November 13. The plush toy is a lucky charm for the cosmonauts.
"According to the existing tradition, we take with us small charms," Shkaplerov said at a pre-flight press conference in Russia as he explained the custom of flying a toy as a "zero-g indicator."
"This indicator we start on Earth, hung on a string, just behind the door between the landing module and living compartment," he said.
"At a time when [we] start weightlessness, about 10 minutes after launch, it will begin to float. So we understand that the start of our flight was a success and we are already in space."
Shkaplerov said that his five-year old daughter recruited the Angry Bird toy to join the space mission.
"This little red birdie [was an] interesting fun toy that my daughter liked. She asked me to fly it - and be sure of its return!" Shkaplerov said laughing.
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