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European Students to Put Microsatellite Into Orbit

Posted by samzenpus on from the easy-school-project dept.

Astervitude writes "A Frankenstein's microsatellite made out of parts "donated" by university students across Europe will be launched on September 30 atop a Russian booster. Space.com reports that more than 400 students "spread across 23 universities and 12 countries" spent 18 months designing and building the SSETI Express. While its acronym sounds suspiciously similar to that of a project that seeks to uncover signs of intelligent life beyond Earth, the SSETI or Student Space Exploration Technology Initiative mission is actually part of an effort by the European Space Agency "to boost student interest in space technology and offer some hands-on experience." The satellite itself weighs a mere 136 pounds and is the "size of a small washing machine", as shown in this ESA photo. Visitors to the mission site may want to check out the contest page for ham radio operators to help collect data from the satellite."

2 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. The Russian Boosters share some credit... by Sattwic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    launched on September 30 atop a Russian booster
    Launching on a Russian Rocket & Booster is so cheap that its one of the best kept secrets... Now that these students have found out that Launching isn't that hard compared to building a Satellite, Serious fun is about to begin...

    Let the mass migration of Hackers to hacking and building Satellites begin!

  2. Re:I sense a connection... by Vegard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would not call Europe communist in general. Granted, we *are* more to the left - way more - than the US. But the fundamental difference is that we *do* have ownership rights, can start private companies, and there is a free market.

    However, we do have more things that are deemed to be the responsibility of the society. Things like education. Things like health service. Things that everyone generally need.

    I think this is a good thing. It (tries to) give everyone equal opportunity, regardless if they come from a rich or a poor family. Of course, it's not absolute, there are still private health service, there's private schools. But the general idea is that there are some fundamental rights people have, that the government should provide.

    Other than that, I (as a european) does not feel particularily that I live in a communist country.

    But for a country where everything is so much skewed to the right as in US, I guess that everything else is communist...