Slashdot Mirror
ISS Astronauts Fire-Up Awesome 'Cubesat Cannon'
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."
I just pictured a cannon firing weighted companion cubes. But their picture is cool too.
I approve of this.
Next stop: Skynet!
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Activate interlocks! Dyna-therms connected. Infra-cells up; mega-thrusters are go! Go Cubesat Force!
Do I have to show my tits to get them to fire a cubesat at me?
That would be way ugly.
The Japanese module got a cannon before the US one?
I just finished looking at the pictures, the 3 cube stats look to be already rotating, is that common??
I would have thought that they would just shoot right out without tumbling ??
if you see me, smile and say hello.
Now when do we get to see the laser cannons that shoot them out of the sky, or is that module top secret?
That's truly outrageous!
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/
It's a tree house for international test pilots to punch their state welfare benefit cards. So they have a slingshot. Big woop.
I, for one, welcome our new cuboid overlords and am jettisoning my tin foil head-wear as I speak
The original title, Satellite Orbital Deployer / Object Flinging Foundry, was found to be too similar to mission commander S. Baldrick's first name and had to be changed at the last minute.
Oh bloody hell! They just fried my Awesomeness Gauge (tm)!
You never really know how close to the edge you can go until you fall off.
Won't they circle back around and hit the ISS on a future orbit? I'm no rocket scientist, but I recall the idea that anything that departs from a given point in orbit will cross it again, and two objects leaving the same orbital point will both cross it again.
Maybe solar or atmospheric drag is enough to alter the cubesat orbits, and I know the ISS orbit is raised periodically, but since they were launched FROM the ISS by expelling them, instead of having a propulsive system, both the ISS and the cubesats left a single point in space and ought to converge there again.
I'd welcome an explantion from a real rocket scientist.
--Brandon / Split Infinity Music
You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have satellites with frickin' laser beams attached to their casings!
I wonder just how many tiny laser wielding box satellites it would take to make one awesome weapon....
Calling it the J-SSOD when you could have called it the CubeSat Cannon...*facepalm*
Not only does that make it sound less exciting, but you gave up a chance to have it mistaken for a military project!
"Sir, we cannot defund the ISS or we will lose the CubeSat Cannon and the Chinese will be able to attack us with high-speed space woks at will! That's what they have right? I'm just assuming..."
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
- Targetlites?
Yes. You might want to squeeze off
a few rounds while you have a chance
Just work the bugs out of the system.
After all, it is her maiden voyage.
President of the United States: Okay who didn't arm their spaceship?
[Finland's representative slowly raises his hand]
President of the United States: Great, great. That's just great...