(Forward from Cisco w/some snippage)
Below is some "cool" information that happened a couple of days ago:
The first phone call from space was made. Astronaut Marsha Ivin, using a Cisco IP SoftPhone on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, made the first and second telephone calls EVER from space.
Since certification for flight is an extremely long and, at times, extremely political process, NASA decided to use SoftPhone for the first trial. The main reason for this is that the laptop PCs used by NASA astronauts have already been certified, and getting a software process in flight is much easier than launching hardware. Extensive testing was performed at NASA using custom-built equipment to replicate the delays and LOS (Loss Of Signal) conditions common with the Space Shuttle. Minor modifications were made and SoftPhone was approved for a trial flight.
Unfortunately, this was not an official goal of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which simply meant testing was not scheduled, and not guaranteed. Despite the lack of official stature for this test, optimism that SoftPhone would be tested was very high as the Astronauts had seen the application and were demanding that it fly with the Shuttle. Imagine being out in space with no way to call home! Imagine being IN space and being able to make a normal phone call anywhere! Despite all the technological advances, separation is very apparent when out in space. Never has an Astronaut been able to pick up a phone and place a call.
At approximately 400PM Central the opportunity to make a call using the Cisco IP SoftPhone became available. Marsha Ivin, with a brief break in official tasks, asked Space Command if there was time to try the IP SoftPhone. The Flight Commander gave the go-ahead and the test was on!. Marsha booted up the SoftPhone and at approximately 409PM made a call to the Flight Director. The call went from her SoftPhone software through a VG-200 gateway, over an FXO port, through a PBX to the phone on the Flight Director s desk. They held a long and animated conversation (though what was actually discussed is unknown) and at the end Marsha was granted permission to call one of the 7960 phones in the POC (Payload Operations Center). She made the call and it was answered by Brett Parrish. Marsha asked So how do you like getting the second ever call from space? . After speaking with Brett, Steve Schadelbauer of NASA was put on the line and he spoke with Marsha. The conversations with Marsha lasted for several minutes. Both Brett and Steve commented at how clear the conversation was much better than the audio quality found on the radio conversations with the Shuttle.
It was amazing at how much of a non-event this was. History in the making but no scrambling, no trouble-shooting. IT JUST WORKS !!!
We have successfully tested 7960 phones in the Space Station and in the Shuttle and they work better than the SoftPhone. It will be a while before we see them as mission approval is a long, and yes political, process. As an example, safety testing must include the INCINERATION of a hardware phone to test for toxic emissions. As far as future capabilities, we have demonstrated SoftPhone collaboration, whiteboarding, and chat features in the NASA lab. All work better than existing capabilities. ART (Administrative Reporting Tool) meets requirements from Space Command for call tracking. XML display capabilities add additional value to the hardware phones and we expect to demonstrate that value and put 7960s in Mission Control.
Oh, and the extension for the SoftPhone on the Shuttle? Why, 2001, of course!