European Students to Put Microsatellite Into Orbit

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."

Comments

Hmm..

[Anonymous Coward]

If only they'll post nice pics of the beautiful beaches around the world...

Mission to mars...

[Vo0k]

Real story.
Poland.
Students' hostel, 10th floor, party. Everybody drunk like the hell. They decide to send a mission to mars. They load a volunteer in a cardboard box, write "Mission to Mars" on it, and throw it out the window.
Party goes on, people on the street spot broken box, smashed corpse in pool of blood. They call the police. The police arrives, starts investigation, they go to the 10th floor, party goes on, they enter and see the students loading another volunteer in another cardboard box with "rescue mission" sign.

Re:I sense a connection...

[bhiestand]

And maybe by constantly building small things YOU'RE really trying to compensate for something?

I feel it's important to note that it's primarily Texans bragging about size, and they consider themselves their own country anyways.

Meanwhile american students learn about...

[presarioD]

...Intelligent Design, and how abstinence is the way to success. But don't worry all these European students they will end up in American universities anyway, because you see the high NSF science budget can afford to attract...wait...no? It got reduced over the years?...well anyway the easy VISA and immigration laws will allow those students to unfold...wait...no?...there is a VISA/SEVIS hell right now...huh??

Right, so as I was saying we don't want these liberal scum in our God fearing great country, blessed uniquely by the One and Only True God (TM).