That implies scientists research things other than their respective fields. Most of them are just as narrowly focused on what they care about, as every other human being.

Maemo is an obscure barely known device OS. Android OS isn't. The N900 is a great phone, but it's also limited in quite a few ways.

Plus, they aren't going for full control of the phone. They just want to write an app on it to control their satelite remotely to see if it's a feasible cost cutting approach - take smartphones up instead of custom-built electronics.

Well, they do want to modify the OS, and the relevant parts are probably open source on both, but again, Maemo 5 is obscure, Android is popularly known. Chances are, they never heard of Maemo.