Satellites within satellites

SSETI Express, short for Student Space Exploration Techology Initiative
Express, is a boxy satellite about the size of a small washing machine.

The 136-pound (62-kilogram) spacecraft is expected to snap photographs
of Earth, test a cold-gas attitude control system and function as a
radio transponder for amateur radio operators.

The spacecraft will also serve as a mothership for three
picosatellites, tiny cubes just under four inches (10 centimeters)
wide, built by universities in Germany, Japan and Norway. The
picosatellites will be ejected into space on orbit.

"So that's another challenge," Willekens said. "The three
[picosatellites] were also built by student teams."

Altogether, the spacecraft cost the ESA Education Department less than
$121,185 (100,000 euros) to piece together, thanks to donated material,
equipment and expertise from participating universities and industry
businesses, ESA officials said. ....

See http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...wed_sseti.html

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Altogether, the spacecraft cost the ESA Education Department less than $121,185 (100,000 euros) to piece together ....

I wonder how much the rocket that is going to put it in orbit, costs
?

Check out your next box of breakfast cereal !!!!

Not a bad promo, eh ?


... Got a couple of $100,000's of spare cash lying around Bert ?

You, too can have your very own custom *designed*, *built*, and
*launched* satellite in NEO orbit ...

... only NO WARRANTY (though)

So what's it to be Bert'o boy ?

RL