Researchers currently test on space station, ISS, Sprites, miniature versions of spacecraft that consist of only a chip. The ruimtescheepjes via 3g-like signals to communicate, be tested for durability.
The so-called Sprites can be in the tens of thousands at a time are launched to collect data on conditions at various places in our solar system. According to the researchers, they can by data to give enough data to generate, for example, a 3d image of certain circumstances. Also, they can without a parachute and land on other moons and planets. Due to their size and simplicity, they are inexpensive to manufacture and to launch.
The Sprites are currently on the space station tested or they are not going to break in the space. As much ruimtescheepjes can survive, they are useful for research. Because the ‘spacecraft-on-a-chip’ no strong signals can be broadcast, they will be equipped with a cdma technique to communicate with Earth. This cdma technique is used in gsm-alternative cdma, gps and 3g technologies umts and hsdpa and is used for relevant signals to be distinguished from ‘noise’ signals that are not relevant to the recipient. The Sprites communicate on 902MHz, the same frequency as in the Netherlands is used for gsm signals, and in some other countries for cdma or umts in use.
On the Sprites there are more solar cells, a small battery, a processor, an antenna, and communication hardware. Current prototypes are around 3.8 cm and weigh around 10 grams, but the intent is to get the weight of the Sprites to bring it back to approximately 5 to 50 milligrams. It is unclear when the experiments are completed and the small ruimtescheepjes for the first time are going to be used.
