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| The Cornell-designed "Sprite" chip satellite (courtesy Cornell U. news release) |
Students at Cornell University are involving ham radio and hams in a project designed to collect information about the atmosphere of Saturn. The AMSAT News Service reports that students at Cornell have developed fingernail-sized satellites designed to be sent to Saturn, where they will flutter down through its atmosphere, reporting on chemistry, radiation and particle impacts. The so-called "Sprites" transmit on the 902 MHz ham band. A group of them is now being tested on board the International Space Station, attached to a panel on the outside of the station. Hams are invited to listen for these very low-powered beacons. For more information, see <http://tinyurl.com/3fs5ks7> or <http://www.spacecraftresearch.com/blog>.