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ISS Astronauts Fire-Up Awesome 'Cubesat Cannon'

Posted by timothy on from the pew-pew-pew dept.

astroengine writes "As if the International Space Station couldn't get any cooler, the Japanese segment of the orbiting outpost has launched a barrage of small satellites — known as "cubesats" — from their very own Cubesat Cannon! Of course, the real name of the cubesat deployment system isn't quite as dramatic, but the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) adds a certain sci-fi flair to space station science."

2 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Portal by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I just pictured a cannon firing weighted companion cubes. But their picture is cool too.

  2. Propellent Questions by Demonantis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They use springs. The J-SSOD click through in the article has a lot more information on the inner workings of the contraption. Its more like a nerf gun than a cannon. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kiboexp/jssod/