Fancy your own satellite? Arizona State University is working towards making this a reality with its SunCube FemtoSat project. Smaller than a standard CubeSat, the low-cost student-designed spacecraft is aimed at providing greater access to space for scientists and hobbyists alike.
Assistant professor Jekan Thanga and a team of students have been developing the SunCube FemtoSat for the past two years. The small 3×3×3cm cube weighs just 35g and a longer (3×3×9cm, 100g) model has also been designed, which includes storage space.
Each SunCube FemtoSat has its own communication, data collection and propulsion (推进) systems and is powered by solar panels. It is made of off-the-shelf parts that are available in shops, and the energy-efficient solar panels are cut from scrap (碎片), which makes it save energy, sold at a discount by manufacturers. "With a spacecraft of this size, any university can do it," says Thanga. "That's part of our major goal—space discovery for everybody. "
The team says that while launching your own satellite would usually cost between US $ 60, 000-70, 000 per kilo, it would only cost $ 1, 000 to send a SunCube FemtoSat to the International Space Station, and $ 3, 000 to send it into low earth orbit. Leaving the earth's gravity would cost an estimated $ 27, 000.
The FemtoSat would be packed with a "jack in the box" style system that matches standard CubeSat sizes (around 10 cubic cm), simplifying the process of getting the tiny satellite into orbit. NASA has sent 30 CubeSats into space over the last years, with another 50 awaiting launch.
Thanga and his staff view the FemtoSat as a starting point for scientists and students, and even hope the device could be bought on the website like Amazon one day. Thanga imagines developing four main applications for the device, including hands-on testing experiences for students, and artificial gravity experiments. In addition, groups of SunCube FemtoSats could eventually be able to do the job of larger spacecraft at a vastly discounted cost.
