A 'mechanic' satellite designed to refuel and repair a partner in space is set to launch on Thursday. The feats would be the first of their kind and will lay the groundwork for future autonomous robotic missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
A Russian company is using anti-satellite weapons technology developed by the Soviet Union to launch microsatellites using a MiG 31. The Soviet Union developed the ability to launch an anti-satellite missile from a fighter jet in response to U.S. tests with an F-15 in 1985.
A look at 'cubesats', an on-going revolution in building tiny and cheap satellites that could bring space science to the masses in the same way the personal computer democratized computing.
An ambitious program called CubeSat, developed at Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is giving students and companies the opportunity to build and launch functional satellites into low Earth orbit, or about 240 to 360 miles above the planet.
Experts say the big news in spacecraft building involves ultra-small CubeSats. These petite but powerful satellites are spearheading a hands-on revolution around the world. And what fist-sized CubeSats bring to space could mimic innovations sparked by the personal computer here on Earth.
After three years of work, University of Washington students have nearly completed the world's smallest self-propelled satellite and are preparing to deliver it to the Air Force and NASA for launch.
Martin Sweeting lectures on the implications of MEMs and microsatellites. He argues that microsatellites are the "Personal Computer" of space, providing affordable access to space at last.
Certain types of satellites have started to shrink in size, cost and development time, making it possible for communities, companies, schools, hospitals—and, perhaps one day, even individuals—to have a satellite of their own.
Inspired by the flight patterns of migrating birds, Air Force researchers are developing a new generation of tiny satellites that would be able to fly in close formation.
The Air Force is preparing to launch a fleet of microsatellites, minature satellites that utilize MEMs technology and weigh in under 20 pounds. The satellites would work in clusters to provide redundancy for critical missions and to perform more complex tasks than are possible with current satellites.