Geeks strap Nexus One/Arduino SmallSat to rocket and launch miles into atmosphere

Geeks and scientists are getting closer and closer to being able to launch personal satellites each year and eventually we will be able to put our own satellites into orbit. A rocket was launched in the Nevada desert recently that had a small homemade satellite attached to it.

The satellite was made of a Nexus One smartphone and Arduino. The rocket that launched the satellite is called the Intimidator-5 and was built by James Dougherty. The thing makes those Estes kits I built as a kid look like a rocket made from toilet paper rolls.

The SmallSat was blasted to an altitude of 28,000 feet and the smartphone shot some video while on its trek that is very cool. Check out the video below and prepare to get dizzy.