ISS Releases Baby Sputnik

illumina+us writes "CNN is running an article about the recent space walk taken by the personnel of the International Space Station. On today's walk the two astronauts 'carried out a 1-foot-long, 11-pound satellite called Nanosputnik, designed for experimental maneuvering by ground controllers.'" The article also has some tidbits on the ISS's gyroscope problems and how the thrusters used to compensate have caused problems for spacewalks in the past.

Comments

Sound Idea

[filmmaker]

Each time, Russian thrusters have to take over, potentially exposing the crew to toxic fuel. This time, flight controllers were careful not to fire the thrusters until the spacewalkers were at a safe distance.

That's probably a sound idea. Definitely pin that up next to "Use either Metric or Imperial units consistently throughout."

Re:Sound Idea

[igny]

'carried out a 1- foot-long, 1-pound satellite called Nano-sputnik,

"Use either Metric or Imperial units consistently throughout."

I think, lack of consistency is evident.

Re:Toxic ??

[TheKidWho]

Umm, the fuel gets on the suits and once they get back into the station the stuff on the suits you know gets into the air?!?! Russian Rocket fuel is nasty stuff that you don't want to be breathing in or touching.

Holy bejeezuz you might actually have to think for a second like the guys at NASA/Russian Space Agency do!

Space shuttle should carry one of these

[G4from128k]

A refined version of this would be a good tool for the space shuttle for exterior inspection without requiring a space walk. A small robotic webcam could peruse the wings for damage and relay video to the shuttle or ground crew. And at 11 pounds (less if they create a mini-version), the impact on the mass budget is not too bad.