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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.""

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

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

  5. 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