The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command received the very first batch of new nano-satellites on the 28th of April.
Usually satellite development takes years and cost billions of dollars, but this eight units, each weighting only 4 kilograms, were produced only in under a year, at less then $1 million each. The SMDC-ONE satellites each weigh less than 10 pounds and are about 10×10x32 centimeters or approximately 4×4x13 inches in size.
First satellite will be placed on low Earth orbit in 2009, remaining seven will be placed at a later date. Demonstration of usage will be held at USASMDC/ARSTRAT on Redstone Arsenal.
The relative low cost of a single satellite enables USASMDC/ARSTRAT to manufacture and put entire constellation of nanosat-class satellites on low Earth orbit. For the future USASMDC/ARSTRAT is considering the usage of different configurations of nanosats. That way they can ensure mission specific setups.
Low cost satellite constellation instead of one-unit traditional military satellite ensure the persistent presence over a given theater. Also the low cost enables the rapid reconstitution of a single satellite if it’s lost.
source : http://www.satprnews.com
Usually satellite development takes years and cost billions of dollars, but this eight units, each weighting only 4 kilograms, were produced only in under a year, at less then $1 million each. The SMDC-ONE satellites each weigh less than 10 pounds and are about 10×10x32 centimeters or approximately 4×4x13 inches in size.
First satellite will be placed on low Earth orbit in 2009, remaining seven will be placed at a later date. Demonstration of usage will be held at USASMDC/ARSTRAT on Redstone Arsenal.
The relative low cost of a single satellite enables USASMDC/ARSTRAT to manufacture and put entire constellation of nanosat-class satellites on low Earth orbit. For the future USASMDC/ARSTRAT is considering the usage of different configurations of nanosats. That way they can ensure mission specific setups.
Low cost satellite constellation instead of one-unit traditional military satellite ensure the persistent presence over a given theater. Also the low cost enables the rapid reconstitution of a single satellite if it’s lost.
source : http://www.satprnews.com
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