In our Sept 21, 2005 post about the democratization of space - DIY Smart Satellites- The new space race? we discusses how students have the capability of sending objects into space.
Two important landmark space events took place recently, which the mainstream media largely ignored, the launch of Sseti in Europe and the continued success of China's space race ( more on China in a future post)
Milestone
Last week the BBC reported that the first satellite built entirely by European students was launched from Plesetsk in northern Russia. The 52 kg micro-satellite, Sseti Express, was designed and built by 100 students from 10 universities in nine countries.
"It's the first European-built satellite that has been built largely by using the Internet as communication between the teams," reports the BBC story.
"The prime purpose is to demonstrate that students, with assistance from an organization like the European Space Agency, can design and build a satellite well-enough constructed to be flown with other passengers."
The satellite is the first mission of the Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative (Sseti).
"Sseti Express carries a camera to take images of the Earth and three tiny "cubesats" to carry out experiments. It will also act as a transponder to relay amateur radio signals."
With the help of the European Space Agency (Esa), which is funding the project, the students hope to construct and launch several more micro-satellites and potentially more complex projects such as a moonlander. (See Mining the Moon)
Impact
- Demonstrates that you don't need millions to fly into space
- Shows the power of intenet collaboration
- Illustrates that space need not be controlled by big government and big business alone-the continued democratization of space.
Is NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) listening?
© 2005
Walter Derzko
Expert, Consultant and Guest Speaker on emerging Smart Technologies, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Lateral Creative Thinking and author of an upcoming book on the Smart Economy "
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