ISS Astronauts May “Phone Home” Soon
A request recently approved by NASA’s Space Station program will soon allow the crew aboard the International Space Station to “phone home” by dialing directly from their laptop computers.
A change request (program modification) was submitted to the Space Station Control Board (SSCB) to authorize the expenditure of approximately $150,000 to implement the ability for astronauts to direct dial a telephone connection to family and friends back on Earth – so long as the telephone number has been pre-approved by someone at NASA JSC.
When implemented, this change request will allow ‘COTS’ (Commercial Of The Shelf) software to be purchased and installed on the SSC (Station Support Computer) laptops currently in use aboard the ISS.
The rationale for this capability is rather easy to understand – even if it is cited as “psych support”. The ability of the crew aboard the space station during multi-month missions (as well as those stationed at the South Pole or aboard a submarine) to be in regular contact with their families back home has long been shown to lead to enhance productivity.
No guidelines are in place, however, to determine exactly what sort of phone calls will be allowed from space.
Extract from the full NASA change request:
Change Title: Internet Telephone Operational Implementation
Description of Change:
1. Perform an ISS DTO similiar to the Shuttle DTO performed during ISS 5A demonstrating the capability to place telephone
calls by the Expedition crew to any phone number authorized to be made by any JSC employees. This capability utilizes the
SSC computer capability through the Ops LAN network through Ku band communications.2. Implement the Internet Telephone capability as a permanent fully operational capability (Criticality three)
Reason for Change: This is a crew support function for psych support. No other operational requirement is intended.
Impact of Non-Incorporation:
Expedition crew effeciency reduced. Without this capability, family conferences must be scheduled, taking time from other
tasks (with the capability, personal phone calls can be made at crew convenience).Requested Processing: Routine X Urgent (Justification Required)
Urgent processing required in order to manifest SSC sofware on flight 6A.Cost Impact (Dollars):
Prime: No Cost, Non-Prime: 150K
Impact Description:
COTS software for SSC, spare ground hardware and software for MCC and Ops LAN lab, plus labor and training for MCC
Related links
- Full Text of the formal NASA Change Request Adobe Acrobat
- 2001: A space Laptop, SpaceRef
- Space Station User’s Guide, SpaceRef
