NASA Releases Full-Fledged Android App in Time for STS-135 Launch, Not Much Better Than Alternatives

Waiting for a full application for NASA that’ll let you keep up with those shuttle launches? They’ve finally released a full-fledged Android application. It’s a welcome addition to their stable of applications as their iOS offerings have been something of much desire for Android users. Here’s a look at the full list of features you’ll be in store for upon downloading:

Features:
– Thousands of images from NASA IOTD, APOD and NASAImages.org
– On demand NASA Videos from around the agency
– Current NASA Mission Information
– Launch Information & Countdown clocks
– Current Visible Passes for the International Space Station (ISS)
– ISS and Earth Orbiting Satellite Tracker
– NASA Twitter Feeds from around the agency
– News and Features from the NASA topic areas
– Facebook® Connect and Integrated Twitter™ client for easy sharing
– Live Streaming of NASA TV
– NASA TV and What’s On Your TV schedules
– Map and links to all of the NASA centers
– Featured content section

But even with all of that, there may be better experiences to be had. I downloaded this application myself and was met with a world of trouble. The first boot got me to the splash page, but none of the buttons to access any of the content showed up. Upon rebooting the app, I was met with said buttons, although they had no images. Still, I tried tapping one and got a force close upon doing so.

Not only that, but the application held my device’s responsiveness hostage long after force-closing. A third try got everything loaded and responsive, but it proceeded to tell me that I had no internet connection although I’m sitting on a strong WiFi signal. Backing out of the app and going in again, I was met with the force closing and unresponsiveness issues again.

More than that, users in the market are saying the video portion of the application just kicks you to NASA’s site in the browser anyway, meaning you will need flash to use the most desirable function of this application. They suggested an alternative: NASA TV.

While it doesn’t give you nearly as much information and content as the official NASA App, it won’t outright deny you the ability to use its meager set of goods compared to the buggy and poorly-coded experience the official offering provides. Unfortunately, recent updates to NASA TV now requires flash player. You can try the official NASA app here, but do give NASA TV a try if that gives you as many issues as it gave me.

Note: NASA is scheduled to launch Space Shuttle Atlantis, a shuttle carrying logistics tools and supplies for the International Space Station, at 11:26am Eastern. This will be the Space Shuttle program’s last launch. PS: Two Nexus S devices will be on board themselves carrying out special missions on the final space shuttle launch.