LOS ANGELES – Sony Electronics is taking on-the-go entertainment to the next frontier. The latest portable DVD player will be aboard the next Space Shuttle Discovery launch scheduled for March 8.
The DVP-FX1 portable DVD player will be the first in space, playing movies and music for the three astronauts aboard the International Space Station, where it will be housed for an extended period of time. Five Sony portable DVD players will be on board, along with about 50 DVDs and CDs, forming the first A/V entertainment system in space.
“Sending the DVD player into space is the perfect opportunity for Sony to equip the ultimate road warrior with the ultimate travel accessory,” said Mike Fidler, senior vice president of home video/digital media marketing at Sony Electronics. “We’ve always known the DVP-FX1 was versatile enough for use on air, land and sea and now Sony is making history by taking DVD entertainment into space.”
The stylish DVD player has been utilized by business people and families alike in airplanes, trains, cars/minivans and even cruise ships since its introduction. Now, it will entertain astronauts and cosmonauts while still playing movies, music and concert videos on its crisp, 7-inch 16:9 LCD display.
The ultra-thin units are encased in a magnesium alloy housing, not available on any other portable DVD player. The casing is integral in its selection to go into space, providing the lightweight durability needed for space travel. The units also deliver the exclusive technologies and high performance found in Sony’s DVD players reinforcing the high-quality cinematic experience associated with the product line.
The DVP-FX1 will be challenged by some unearthly conditions. The shuttle will lift off at a speed of 200 miles per hour when it clears the tower before reaching an orbital speed of 17,500 miles per hour and encountering a maximum of three G forces. After having endured such extremes, the player will rely on its Advanced SmoothScan Picture Search for seamless transitions between video frames. The limited space aboard the shuttle and the International Space Station are no problem for the DVP-FX1, which is slimmer than three stacked DVD cases even with the battery.
What will the astronauts watch in space? People will soon have the opportunity to make their opinion known on what movies and music are ideal for a stay in space on www.sony.com. Beginning in mid-February, consumers can cast their vote on the contents of the first-ever DVD library in space.
