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Mini Satellites Could Revolutionize Space Industry
An anonymous reader writes "Space Daily reports that University of Toronto researchers are working on a project that could replace conventional satellites with a miniature version no larger than a milk carton. From the article: "At only 3.5 kilograms, the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 2 (CanX-2) will test small, low-power devices that could lay the groundwork for flying formations of small satellites that could eventually replace larger, more expensive satellites."
How is this going to work i wonder ?, what with all the junk already floating around out there since the late 60's and with the space station how are they going to keep other junk from junking their new baby satallites ?. just a a thought. CH
One of biggest problems about orbit that there is already too much garbage round around the globe. It is creating significant danger to any rocket with men going up there. So collecting of this garbage sure will be next big enterprise after opening civilian space flight.
user@ubuntubox:~$ stfu This server is going down for shutdown NOW!
It is not the huge stuff that is a problem. It is the small stuff, such as the stage bolts that are exploded. These yield numerous small parts (.5-2 centimers), that are literally untrackable. Yeah, they are small, but then again 17000 Miles per hour is a LOT of energy. As to needing a garbage collector, well, a space laser can probably be put into space and used to start pushing small stuff down into the atmosphere. Friction is a wonderful tool.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
I think you miss the point. Big satellites are insanely expensive to design, build, and launch. If your one Big Bird blows up on the launch pad, or gets hit by the aforementioned space junk, or is shot down by the North Koreans, you've just wasted the entire expenditure.
IF, on the other hand, you spend an approximately equal amount of money to build a swarm of tiny, cheap, simple birds, that together can do the same job as a big satellite (and have some redundency amongst themselves), you can afford to lose a few from time to time. There are less catastrophes that will deny your orbital presence entirely.
Plus, if your birds are the size of milk cartons (with a mass to go with it), your launch options are a LOT more flexible: instead of commissioning your own launch, you can piggyback on other launches at a huge discount.
Like with clusters of servers, disks, or whatever, flexibility opens up tons of opportunities to save money and be more robust.
flying formations of small satellites that could eventually replace larger, more expensive satellites
I hate reading text like this in the context of university research projects. Every prof. looking for grant money seems quite willing to say 'Our new Fremulator design will revolutionize the VeebleFetzer industry and replace more expensive Framistan devices used today.' Considering the amount of additional hardware needed by a flock of microsatellites (propulsion, orientation, power collection, communications), you'll need some huge gains in other areas to really make this cheaper than one big integrated satellite. TFA says nothing to support the idea that these small birds really have practical commercial applications.
RETURN without GOSUB in line 1050