NASA Goes Bargain Basement With New Satellite

coondoggie writes to tell us that NASA has announced a new low-cost satellite that could be ideal for those who wish to get into space quickly and (relatively) inexpensively. "The Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology SATellite (FASTSAT) is 39.5 inches in diameter — not much larger than an exercise ball. It is hexagonally shaped and clocks in at a little less than 200 Lbs. It can carry a payload up to 110 Lbs. [...] NASA said FASTSAT is just the right size for earth observing missions, space science missions, and technology demonstrations. 'We think we can do whole missions for less than $10 million instead of the traditional $100s of millions, and that includes the launch vehicle, the satellite, and the widget you want to test,' said Marshall Space Flight Center's Edward 'Sandy' Montgomery in a release."

Comments

Let me know when I can get one at the Dollar Store

[davidwr]

$10M may seem cheap but it's still out of the price range for most businesses. Maybe Google or CNN can afford to buy a beowolf cluster of these babies to help it map the Earth, and maybe even Rand McNally can afford one or two, but I doubt Joe's Map Company or the local independent radio station can.

Let me know when I can buy them for only 3 easy payments of $29.95.

Disclaimer for those with mod points: This post is NOT intended as a flame or flamebait.

Re:Exercise Ball?

[P3NIS_CLEAVER]

Because '1 Meter', '90 Kilograms weight' and '50 Kilograms of Payload' is just too damn difficult for the average American.