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USNA "Budget" Satellite Launched and Functioning

Posted by timothy on from the hey-bob-where's-my-metal-tape-measure dept.

Arpad Korossy writes: "Hey, you ran a story on this earlier, and some people expressed doubt whether a sattelite made for a tenth of the usual cost using mostly components from Radio Shack would work; well, it has. The best line in the whole article has to be 'Instead of a $50,000 antenna system, the group used a metal tape measure.""

15 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. NASA adopts innovative procedures by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

    Instead of a $50,000 antenna system, the group used a metal tape measure.

    Nasa thought it was such a good idea they have placed a $1,000,000 order for 20 metal tape measures.

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    1. Re:NASA adopts innovative procedures by cybercuzco · · Score: 4, Funny
      Going to the bathroom in space is not as easy as it may at first appear. For example, the first astronauts, when they had to perform, um, Number 2 Had the advanced technology of the sticky lipped bag. It was essentially a plastic bag with sticky lips. Here are the instructions for use:

      1:Open bag, remove toilet paper.

      2: Stick bag on your ass.

      3: Since gravity is important in fecal seperation, you have to use centripetal force to seperate the feces. Rotate your behind in a circular fashion to create the centripetal force and seperate the feces.

      4: Remove bag and seal lips.

      5: Due to the danger of bacterial growth and gas emmissions (there is a danger the bacteria will release so much gas the bag will explode) A Germicidal tablet has been included in the bag. Crush the tablet with your fingers, through the bag, then work into the fecal material thoughroly to ensure good contact with all bacteria.

      6, stow the bag in a place where it wont float around the cabin.


      Compared to that procedure, a million dollar toilet is worth it. Especially considering it had to be designed from scratch, since normal toilets would just spew water and whater was in the water all over the place. And you thought space was glamourous.

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  2. Radio Shack? by anotherone · · Score: 4, Funny
    These guys made a working satilitte from RADIO SHACK stuff?

    This has got to be some sort of a record- Radio Shack stuff working!

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    1. Re:Radio Shack? by Kr3m3Puff · · Score: 2, Funny
      I am just thinking about the Radio Shack employees who made his commision for the day when they navy guys showed up and bought up half the store.

      I am sure Radio Shack will now be having Satellite Discount promotions now.

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    2. Re:Radio Shack? by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      This has got to be some sort of a record- Radio Shack stuff working!

      You mean RS-bought items have a reputation for NOT working? Hmm. Maybe that Realistic stuff I bought doesn't actually work, and my office door just stays open all on its own! Thank you, kind stranger! I am off to find out my doors need, or lack of it, for a doorstop!

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  3. It figures... by CrayBeast · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...I've been using a metal coathanger to pick up TV for years :)

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  4. Doesn't take much... by teflonrabbit · · Score: 2, Funny

    a satellite built by Naval Academy midshipmen with off-the-shelf parts from Radio Shack is exceeding all expectations

    And it's exceeding mine too. :-) Approximately 3 out of every 5 things that I've gotten at radio shack have either been broken when I got them home or they broke shortly later. I can recall a CD player that *melted*, audio cabling that had breaks in the wires, and broken rj-45 connectors off hand...

    If this thing can go another week, i'll be really impressed.

  5. $$ by saqmaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    One thing this article fails to mention is how much it actually cost to get this thing into space..

    I know the government do some projects, however I don't know the specifics, for schools/education environments.. Saw something on slash a while back on this.. But sure, this device may have cost 1/10th the cost of a full NASA satellite, but the launching costs would have been the same, which in all reality is probably more than the cost of the proper version satellite in the first place!

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  6. Re:Radiation hardening? by satanami69 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "...until the first decent solar flare"
    I keep telling them that they should only fly these things at night, and avoid the hazards of the sun.

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  7. RadioShack by Ratbert42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, but did they have to give their name & phone number to RadioShack to buy those parts?

  8. Hmm... improvisational thinktank by Colin+Bayer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why don't we get these undergrads, Martha Stewart, and the writers of MacGyver together to improvise a working missile-defense shield?

    It'll be done on time and under-budget, it'll coordinate with all the other satellites, and it'll be made solely of a shoe polish tin, duct tape, a foot of rope, and a thumbtack!

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  9. I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do you think they included a CueCat on the satellite that Radio Shack built? It could be 230 miles above you right now, stealing your privacy! Frightening.

  10. Well Great.... by RiscIt · · Score: 2, Funny

    There goes the price of metal tape measures...

  11. Radio Shack Parts by SnarfQuest · · Score: 2, Funny

    How much of their savings were made by using parts from free CueCats and Flashlights?

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  12. Re:Space junk by daviddennis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, obviously there is a very straightforward solution to this problem.

    Create a one-hour TV show about LEO satellites.

    But what would happen if it got cancelled?

    Okay, okay.

    Does space junk have any value? Most of it was pretty expensive when new, could it be collected and saved for use in new satellites?

    D