"Personal Satellite Kits" (including launch) for $8,000

[Sam Fraser]

Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the introduction of Interorbital’s TubeSat Personal Satellite (PS) Kit.

Since the TubeSats are placed into self-decaying orbits 310 kilometers (192 miles) above the Earth’s surface, they do not contribute to any long-term build-up of orbital debris. After a few weeks of operation, they will safely re-enter the atmosphere and burn-up.

TubeSats are also available as Double TubeSats, Triple TubeSats, or Quadruple TubeSats. The length, volume, and mass of these expanded TubeSats are based on the multiplying factor.

http://spacefellowship.com/2009/08/01/interorbital-syatems-tubesat-personal-satellite-kit/

Can we cobble together for two weeks of NEO observation and spectroanalysis? Or is there little to be gained from sending a telescope above Earth's atmosphere? I know it blocks most infra-red, which is why IRAS was launched way back in 1983, but maybe that's not relevant. What opportunities now present themselves with this new micro-sat launch option?

[joertexas]

Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the introduction of Interorbital’s TubeSat Personal Satellite (PS) Kit.

Since the TubeSats are placed into self-decaying orbits 310 kilometers (192 miles) above the Earth’s surface, they do not contribute to any long-term build-up of orbital debris. After a few weeks of operation, they will safely re-enter the atmosphere and burn-up.

TubeSats are also available as Double TubeSats, Triple TubeSats, or Quadruple TubeSats. The length, volume, and mass of these expanded TubeSats are based on the multiplying factor.

http://spacefellowship.com/2009/08/01/interorbital-syatems-tubesat-personal-satellite-kit/


Can we cobble together for two weeks of NEO observation and spectroanalysis? Or is there little to be gained from sending a telescope above Earth's atmosphere? I know it blocks most infra-red, which is why IRAS was launched way back in 1983, but maybe that's not relevant. What opportunities now present themselves with this new micro-sat launch option?

I don't know what actual science missions we could put together, but it's a terrific way to test hardware and ground facilities. It'd also be invaluable as a training tool.

JR

[sgeos]

Interorbital (http://www.interorbital.com/) is an awesome company. I think they are definitely taking steps to make the world a better place. I think the nicest thing about the TubeSat (http://www.interorbital.com/TubeSat_1.htm) is that the kit price includes launch. This makes it way cheaper than the CubeSat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat).

I think it would be neat to design a homeschool cirriculum around launching a TubeSat by the end of high school. Capital and knowledge permitting, you could launch one standard TubeSat kit, one advanced TubeSat with custom parts, and one CubeSat. =P

If you put $50.00 a month toward the kit, you'll have enough to buy it in under 14 years (unless you are in California). Obviously, if you want it to do anything, you'll incur other expenses.