it is the Shatner rendition!

A quick search on the world's favourite data miner reveals e.g. http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=22762

This is interesting why, exactly? Couldn't give a monkey's toss if astronauts took sheet music and a chamber orchestra with them.

Wait. Actually, no. The chamber orchestra would be far more interesting than some eagle-eyed sadsack spotting an iPod in a NASA photograph. Too much time on his hands, no doubt.

What. Apple let them actually change the battery? !

Paris - cos she like's her ipod.

Why does lithium have to go?

So are the laptops used on space missions equipped with Li-Ion batteries, or are they running on alkalines as well?

--Paris icon because I'm sure she has many toys that take alkaline batteries.

Essentially, because the Shuttle and ISS are VERY enclosed spaces, and the contents of a lithium-ion battery are toxic, corrosive, flammable and potentially explosive. The risks aren't worth the weight and size benefits.

when they have an ipod that runs on a fuel cell...

looks more like a white zune to me ...

It really is f***ing Rocket Science to change the batteries on an iPod.

Spacesuit please.