On Fri, 6 Jan 2012 23:07:47 +0000 (UTC) Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net wrote:
Couldn't we have a "ARISSat-1-2-3 etc. sitting on the shelf and everytime they send up a supply/crew change bring another ARISSat. Then throw it out whenever available. Seems simple however I am sure the logistics would be complex.
I keep saying this over and over but no-one has taken me seriously yet ;-)
A cubesat is the size and weight of a bag of sugar. We need a rucksack full of cubesats to send up to the ISS. The next time an ISS crewmember is on an EVA they can toss it over the side and let it fly. When it breaks or re-enters, toss the next one out.
We could easily use cheap off-the-shelf parts, even old HTs with a bit of "added lightness". I'll even throw in a rucksack. Let's get on this.