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NASA experiments with Micro satellites

One small step for nanokind
Friday, 25 April 2008, 08:33

NASA's Ames Research Center has signed a deal with m2mi to experiment with a system of micro satellites in a bid to improve telecommunications and networking from space.

According to a NASA press release NASA Ames and m2mi will work together to develop what they dub nanosats on a commercial basis.

Nanosatellites weigh between 11 and 110 pounds and are arranged in a cluster or constellation. They are placed in low Earth orbit for the new telecommunications and networking system.

They should be able to provide a global, space-based, high-speed network for communication, data storage and Earth observations.

On the plus side they are cheaper to make and stick in orbit and can be mass produced. If one of them fails it is not so critical for the whole project.

The Nanosatellites will use an Internet protocol and will mean that voice over IP will also be run over the networks. NASA will provide the expertise in nanosensors, wireless networks and nanosatellite technologies, while m2mi will provide the software technology, sensors, global system awareness, adaptive control and commercialisation capabilities. ยต

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Comments
Think Server 2008(TelcomSat Pkg) 64 bit.

How Come NO One Complained about all variations of Server 2008. well, outside of 64 or 32 bit, there pretty much same: NT6.Perfect step from Super Computing Pkg to: Satelite Communications Pack.ete Designer. Stewie Drashek

posted by : Microsoft_Ultie, 25 April 2008Complain about this comment
Swarm

Low earth orbit also means they will have to be replaced every year with an expensive and very polluting rocket of course, just something one might mention to be topical.

posted by : W.-, 27 January 2008Complain about this comment
www.metric4us.com

Since you are still using pounds and all that ancient crap, I am wondering if you actually understand what the difference between nano and micro is?

posted by : 100 stone pig, 26 April 2008Complain about this comment
lbs

Lol 11 - 110lbs, why not use stone weight instead? the original source obviously used the nice round numbers 5-50kg, and we get the ugly 11lbs? We know what a kg is.

posted by : Tony, 28 January 2008Complain about this comment
Hydrogen

The rockets used to launch satellites etc. use hydrogen as their fuel so they don't pollute, only produce water as a by product.

posted by : Hellfire29, 27 April 2008Complain about this comment
Railgun

If these things could be launched by a rail gun/coil gun then they would revolutionise the communications industry. Every man and his dog could afford to have satellites.

posted by : TimTheToolMan, 27 April 2008Complain about this comment
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