Smartphone to control small satellite

BBC : For the first time, an entire satellite may be run through a piece of everyday consumer electronicsâmdash;a Google Nexus smartphone. The CubeSat Strand-1, being developed by the Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology in the UK, is set to launch from India later this month. Although the phone on board won’t take over operation of the satellite right away, it will eventually run a number of apps, for such purposes as sensing the magnetic environment in space. Smartphones aren’t likely to ever run larger, more costly satellites, but some of their technologies might be used.