Properly, I didn’t count on to see Zune come throughout the information desk this week. I might in all probability depart you with the headline, and most of you’ll be stunned to see the identify however not shocked the failed MP3 participant can solely be used as a PR stunt now.
In any case, what’s the Zune doing in area? Properly, there’s each a fictional and non-fictional half to this story.
Redwire, Microsoft, and many others checks notesMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, are teaming up with a relaunched Zune.internet to offer STEM materials to kids and introduce them to 3D printing.
What does the ISS should do with this?
Redwire House at the moment has two 3D printers onboard the Worldwide House Station. The latest one was launched on high of an Antares rocket final November to the ISS by way of a Cygnus spacecraft. Known as the BioFabrication Facility, it will possibly 3D print human tissue in methods that may’t be down right here on Earth.
Whereas that’s cool, that gained’t be capable of print a Zune, and nothing is as cool as a Zune, mentioned some Microsoft govt 15 years in the past, in all probability. Enter the Additive Manufacturing Facility or AMF, which has been operational on the ISS since 2016. The AMF has printed lots of of spare elements and instruments that will have in any other case wanted to attend months for the subsequent resupply launch to get to the station.
Microsoft will use this to convey the Zune into the area age. That’s proper, some astronaut may have the honour of 3D printing the splendidly brown block that’s Microsoft’s Zune. It actually is absolutely cool that that is even attainable and having these printers in area has opened up so many possiblities that wasn’t attainable earlier than.
3D printing has made large strides lately within the area trade, with it being a function of just about each industrial area station deliberate to interchange the ISS in 2030. Additionally, the primary 3D-printed rocket, Relativity’s Terran 1, lifted off from Cape Canaveral earlier this yr. The way forward for area will function additive manufacturing all over the place it will possibly for its comfort whereas in area and fast prototyping right here on Earth.
Why is that this a factor?
This can be a massive program to spice up STEM materials to kids and promote the discharge of the newest Guardians of the Galaxy film, during which one of many principal characters, Starlord, carries a Zune 30.
When you’re a instructor, there’s even educating materials you could find on the revamped Zune.internet, and in case you are somebody that has visited this web site earlier than this revampt, you’re cool, I such as you.
What’s the Zune?
I hate that I’ve to write down this part, however since I not too long ago had the privilege of joking for the primary time a previous life occasion was “only a few years in the past” when in reality, it was over a decade in the past, I really feel I have to clarify this product.
So for the children on the market that grew up solely with an iPhone or iPod contact, there was a time when MP3 gamers (that is what we known as them… properly we truly all had iPods) have been their very own product and weren’t simply constructed into telephones. Apple was, in fact, dominating the market with its iPod lineup, and good previous Microsoft believed it had an opportunity with the Zune. I bear in mind when my mother and father obtained me mine and mentioned, “It does every thing the iPod does.” Sigh. Emotionally, I don’t know if I’ll ever get well from that.
In any case, yeah seems Apple’s system was higher, and Microsoft spent extra time making an attempt to match the iPod than atually compete, and the product was discontinued in, I feel, 2011? That’s how a lot I don’t care. I’m not trying it up, not value it.
It appears just like the Zune will lastly make it to area in any case being what I’m dubbing the primary 3D-printed MP3 participant in area. Nonetheless, it gained’t be capable of play any music… which the iPod did when it went into area again in 2006.
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