Here it is:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Will Cox" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <Recipient list suppressed>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 9:15 AM
Subject: Is this COOL or what? Cisco Space Phones!
> Enjoy the read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
> >>Yesterday, at approximately 4:09 PM Central, 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.
> >>
> >>
> >>NASA has had CallManager software in a development lab since prior to
> the Selsius acquisition by Cisco. The Selsius, and now second-generation
> Cisco phones, have been unusually tolerant to the satellite delay between
> Mission Control in Houston and the Shuttle. Brett Parrish, lead NASA
> engineer on this project, holds our CallManager software in very high
> regard, especially since finding it works over satellite delay without
> modification between our hardware-based phones (tested to up to 1.2
seconds
> of delay). Brett has stated that it is very unusual for an application to
> work out of the box with this type of delay.
> >>
> >>
> >>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 to CallManager (inclusion of a service parameter)
> and to SoftPhone (change in the order of events for call acceptance) by
> Cisco development to address TAPI issues with delay, 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 4:00PM 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 4:09PM 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 !!! Most of
> the credit goes to Brett and Steve for their tireless testing and
> replication of the Shuttle s environment. On the other hand, this is truly
> an illustration of how Cisco s IP Telephony makes geographic location
> irrelevant to audio communications. Anywhere, and that means ANYWHERE, you
> have IP connectivity you have a COMMUNICATIONS network, which includes
> telephony. The network works, no excuses!
> >>
> >>
> >>This is a tribute to many things. Brett and Steve put our software and
> hardware through the ringer at NASA subjecting it to delay, loss of
signal,
> and bit error rates well above what would be found even between Mission
> Control and the Shuttle. As a result, this historic moment was a non
event.
> Also as a result, future applications are so real that only official
> testing and approval stand in the way. 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.
> Will Cox
> Inside Sales-Canada
> Cisco Systems, Inc.
> 7025 Kit Creek Road
> P.O. Box 14987
> Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA 27709
> Direct: 800-888-8187 x24509
> Fax: 919-392-4744
> Pager: 1-800-365-4578
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www.cisco.com
>
> For Pre-Sales Technical Support and Customer Service call: 1- 800-462-4726
>
> Cisco Technical Assistance Center (24hr): 1- 800-553-2447
>
> Empowering the Internet Generation
-----Original Message-----
From: David York [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 7:06 AM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: Cisco Space Phone
> Would someone send me a copy of the Cisco Space Phone email, I seemed to
> have lost mine.
>
> Thanks
>
> Cameron Ashley
> Sr. Network Engineer
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
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