Satellites-microchips (“star dust”) will go into orbit

In a few days, the last flight of the Endeavor American shuttle ( STS-134 ) should finally take place, with which the tests of three experimental miniature satellites measuring 3.8 x 3.8 x 0.2 cm, that is, with a large coin, will begin. Each experimental apparatus consists of seven solar cells, a microprocessor, an antenna with an amplifier, a capacitor, and a control circuit, which turns on a radio transmitter when a sufficient charge accumulates in the capacitors. It's all. The weight of the satellite on the surface of the Earth is 10 grams.

These satellites have a number of advantages. First, they are energy efficient, because solar panels cover the entire surface of the device.

Secondly, they can be put into orbit by thousands and even millions, there are no problems with weight lifting.

Thirdly, such devices can occupy a position at a very low orbit of 300–400 km and therefore do not burn in the atmosphere when they fall to Earth.
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Each microcircuit from orbit should give a weak signal at a frequency of 902 MHz. If we manage to catch it (which is not a trivial task in and of itself), then the gap between the signals will give information about the charging rate of the capacitors, so that we will receive information about the orientation of the satellites towards the Sun. On this mission of the apparatus will be completed.

The experiment should confirm the viability of the concept, and in the future such “star dust” can be launched into the orbits of other planets. Chief engineer for satellite chips Mason Peck of Cornell University says that optimized device versions can be 14 x 14 mm in size and 20 microns thick. With such a thickness, they can work as solar sails and move in space. Maneuvers will be carried out by evaporation of the film from the surface.

This is a radically new approach to space exploration, which has already been described in science fiction. For example, in Wilson’s novel “Spin” (2006 Hugo Award), every developed civilization in the Universe launched a network of such microscopic reconnaissance aircraft that were able to reproduce their own kind, destroy similar enemy vehicles, transfer the collected information back to the basic planet and receive new instructions. That is, interstellar battles and diplomacy in space are carried out exclusively at the program level.