"Raspberry Pi Technology Safeguards NASA Telescope Data"

Scientists used Raspberry Pi computers to secure data from NASA's Super Pressure Balloon Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT) after communication links failed and the telescope was destroyed during landing. The Raspberry Pi-powered Data Recovery System (DRS) capsules, equipped with solid-state storage, parachutes, and transceivers, successfully transmitted and recovered intact data. The cost-effective solution ensures the preservation of valuable scientific data in case of unforeseen events and is recommended for future balloon missions. The open-source design and software are freely available for further development at NASA.