In case you missed it, some time ago we post a blog titled One Small Step for XBee, One Giant Leap for Wiress, describing the then-planned NASA experiment integrating Digi XBee® modules. Well, after a few delays (launching rockets is complicated!), Digi XBee finally took flight. 
Early in the morning on July 7, 2015, NASA launched a NASA Black Brant IX suborbital sounding rocket from their Wallops Flight Facility. Onboard the rocket was an experiment testing Exo-Brake technology. A Digi XBee module was used to collect sensor data, including temperature, air pressure, and 3-axis acceleration parameters.
NASA is considering Exo-brakes as a possible solution for returning cargo from the International Space Station (ISS) and orbiting platforms, or as possible landing mechanisms in low-density atmospheres. This was one of many tests used to analyze its effectiveness, but the first to incorporate a Digi XBee connected sensor network. If you would like to read more about the Exo-brake, check out the article on New Atlas.
Be sure to check back for updates, or subscribe to our blog. In the meantime, you can learn more about the experiment in the articles linked below:
NASAs Official Announcement on the Launch
IoT Tech Goes to Space with NASA
Have any questions about the launch or the technology involved in the experiment? Contact us!