Sign in / up

back to article NASA launches iPhone spaceship app in 3D SPAAAAACE!

NASA has released an app that allows would-be rocket scientists get up close and personal with the agency's spacecraft. NASA's Spacecraft 3D app Spacecraft 3D, made at NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL), uses augmented reality animation to show how the spacecraft moves and to allow users to move its outer components. The app …

COMMENTS

House rules Send corrections
This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Jess--

    Oh Well

    just tried to have a nose at the app to be greeted with...

    "This app requires IOS 5.1"

    0 0
  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    How come this story has five 'A's in 'space', but the asteroid mining headline only has four?

    0 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      It's a conspiracy, I tell you!

      0 0
    2. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Because

      "A" is for "Apple", or something...

      0 0
      1. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Because

        That's true, but it's purely coincidental. The extra A actually stands for Anchovy. This indicates that, secretly, it is also available for devices running Anchovy OS.

        Unfortunately my Anchovy device only runs AOS 5.0 Cheese and Pickle Sandwich, which means I can't use this app either.

        Those fishy buggers!

        1 0
      2. AndrueC Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        Joke

        Re: Because

        Apparently it's not as in "A4" although I hope that's just because the author is living in a country that doesn't believe in international standards rather than being hardcoded. 'Foolscap' indeed :-/

        1 0
  3. Robert Carnegie Silver badge

    So

    they aren't using those two-dimensional space craft any more, then?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_plaque NSFW

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record

    1 0
  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ooh shiny

    I just installed this on my iThingy, and that's a very detailed rover model, very cute.

    (Also, inb4 the obligatory guffawing porn-related comments for this sort of thing)

    0 1
  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    NASA Game

    If you liked that, you might also like the NASA game based on the International Space Station, at

    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/station_spacewalk_game.html

    For the technically minded (i.e. you), it was made using the Unity game engine (www.unity3d.com).

    0 0
    1. handle
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Down

      Re: NASA Game

      Ah, that'll be the same "Unity Web Player" that "is not currently compatible with the operating system that you appear to be using" then? Funny choice of name.

      1 1
      1. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: NASA Game

        They have recently announced support for Linux in their next release. I have no doubt, however, that you'll be able to find something else to complain about.

        1 0
        1. handle
          Reply Icon

          Re: NASA Game

          Glad to hear it - and if it works, then why should I have anything to complain about?

          0 0
  6. Lloyd
    Thumb Down

    This is the same Nasa that always moans about lack of funding????

    And yet they still have time and resources to do this? You could make the argument that it'll get kids interested in science but how many kids have a product running ios5? At least the web based stuff can use that argument.

    1 7
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: This is the same Nasa that always moans about lack of funding????

      Yes, because developing a simple AR app as part of their educational materials is both outside of their remit, and as expensive as launching a spacecraft.

      *tactical facepalm*

      4 1
    2. toadwarrior
      Reply Icon
      Trollface

      Re: This is the same Nasa that always moans about lack of funding????

      There is a higher portion of iOS users on the latest than there are android users on the latest so all in all they made the right choice I think.

      0 1
  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Application initialisation failed.

    Downloaded it. Don't work. Fail.

    0 0
  8. Phil Atkin
    Thumb Up

    Great use for your embarrassing old iPad 1 without a camera ....

    .... stick on the table with the registration image showing, allowing your shinier, thinner new iPad to be totally AR cool. It would have been cheaper to buy a printer of course but I wanted the new iPad more.

    0 0
This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like