Space: Tiny Triumphs

choi

Strategy Page, July 22, 2015.
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htspace/articles/20150722.aspx

Quote:

"One reason these smaller satellites [nanosatellites, of shoebox size] are so cheap is that most are built locally by people who do not specialize in satellite construction. * * * While larger satellites have a useful life measured in years, smaller birds are built to last for a few weeks or months. The low cost and ease of construction means that more organizations worldwide can design and build satellites.

"The earliest (1950s and early 60s) satellites were similar in size to the larger nano satellites, mainly because the available rockets back then could not put anything larger into orbit.

"The US military launched its first CubeSats in 2008

"A tiny satellite like this includes solar panels to provide power. A British firm pioneered this technology in the 1990s

"These tiny satellites also have the advantage of being much more difficult to be tracked from the ground. If there are successful wartime satellite attacks, then the nanosatellites can be sent up to replace the lost birds. The lightweight satellites (from CubeSats to 200 kg minisats) can be put in orbit using smaller, solid fuel, boosters.

"keeping the [launch] cost down to under $10,000 per microsatellite.