Build Your Own Linux-Based Satellite

An anonymous reader writes "For $10 million, SpaceDev is offering a Linux-based microsatellite that can be controlled over the internet using any laptop or desktop computer. The Modular Microsat Bus utilizes such things as plug and play USB, Ethernet, and other standards, while providing critical features such as power, maneuvering, and communication for you. Up to 40 kg of project space are at your disposal"

Comments

Re:$10 million and 40kg? Why not $250k and 1kg?

[networkBoy]

I think that the picosats are cool, but there is not a ton that you can do in such a small package. A small transponder, some radiation experiments, no reasonable optics will fit in that tight a package, and even if they did you would need to accomodate stabilizing gear.
That said, they are great for universities, where the resulting knowledge gained is the goal and the useful science is almost gravy.

As to the /.ing, I think the sat would have no problem, due to the rather low speed of the anticipated link (no dish, just a whip antenna, so BW will bw lower). Whether the page will be viewable with a million geeks trying to share a 10kbps link, I dunno.
-nB

Open Source public Sat?!

[DigiShaman]

Ok guys and gals, is there anything we can do at Slashdot to pool togeather some money and have one built? I'm willing to donate up to $100. I would love to see everyone donate money to have a Slashdot Sat put into space along with the names of those who contribute. Also, I would love to have access to the Sat for shits and grins.

What can it be used for? does it matter? The fact I can access a Sat that can later be upgraded with software totally turns me on!