LITTLE more than ten centimetres across, so-called CubeSats are cheap-to-launch satellites that are able to carry out many scientific and commercial tasks at a fraction of the cost of conventional orbiters. This miniaturisation is mainly thanks to electronics developed for smartphones.
CubeSats can be launched as additional payload alongside bigger satellites, sent up during deliveries to the International Space Station or put aloft on small, purpose-built rockets like NASA’s new Venture Class. Being cheap means that once their orbits decay and they burn up on re-entering the atmosphere, CubeSats can simply be replaced with newer versions. But it can pay to reposition them, both to operate more effectively and prolong their service life. That, however, is a challenge because for reasons of safety a CubeSat cannot carry conventional rocket fuel. They typically rely for manoeuvrability on heating an inert liquid and ejecting small jets of the resulting vapour, which is a poor substitute for the energetic burning of rocket fuel. So better means of motion are required—and at least two are on...Continue reading
Source: Science and technology http://ift.tt/20v3xVb
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