Butthingsarechanging.Highcosts,unusualeducationalrequirementsandlongstart-uptimesarenolongeranobstacletospaceexploration.ThescientistsatStanfordUniversityhavedevelopedanewtypeoftinyinexpensiveearth-orbitingsatellitesthatgofromideastolaunch(发射)inayear.
Sofar,collegestudenthavebuiltandlaunchedseveralcube-shapedsatellites,orCubeSats.Atleast15morearereadytogo.Thosealreadyinorbit(轨道)takepictures,collectinformationandsenditbacktotheearth,justasregularsatellitesdo.
Butyoumightnotevenhavetowaituntilyougettocollegetostartdesigningandbuildingyourownsatellite.AnewprogramcalledKatySataimstogetteenagerstotakepart.Oncekidsunderstandwhatsatellitescando,saysBenYuan,anengineeratLockheedMartininMenloPark,Calif,thekindsofapplicationsthey’llcomeupwithmaybecountless.
“We’dliketoputthistechnology(技术)inyourhands,”hetellskids.“We’regoingtoteachyouhowtooperateasatellite.Thenwewanttoturnitovertoyouasasandboxforyoutoplayin.Wewantyoutotakethetechnologyintonewdirectionsthatwehaven’tthoughtofyet.”
Educationisn’ttheonlygoalofCubeSats.Becausethesetiny,technology-filledboxesarerelativelyinexpensivetobuildandcanbeputtogetherquickly,they’reperfectfortestingnewtechnologiesthatmightonedaybeusedonmajorspacetasks.
Nowadays,collegeandhighschoolstudentsaregettingachancetolearnwhatittakestoexploreinspace.Someday-perhapsalotsoonerthanyouimagine-youmightgettodesign,buildandlaunchyourownsatellite.Ifyoudo,you’resuretohavefun.Andyoumightalsogetcrazyaboutscienceforlife.
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