NASA’s ‘PhoneSats’

Friday, 07 June 2013 | by Pat's Picks

NASA is an agency known for going big, which is why its latest project is an unusual one, says the Orlando Sentinel. In April, NASA launched three tiny satellites into orbit, all smaller than a coffee mug and built using pieces from old smartphones. Instead of a multi-million dollar price tag, each was made for under $8,000. Not only did they survive the trip into orbit, the “PhoneSats” beamed back complex data, even photos of Earth. Next up, scientists are putting the tiny satellites up to the more rigorous challenge of measuring space radiation. The hope is that cheap technology will figure into all future satellites.

SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel