What are microsat and picosat?

microsat and picosats are miniature satellites. Although there is no formal classification, they are generally referred to as the following:

Satellites with wet matter (including fuel) between 100-500 kg (220–1100 lb) are sometimes called minisators, but more often only "small satellites". The miniselite is somewhere between a small refrigerator and a small car. Minisatelits (and anything smaller) are often released as part of the package more than one, where the useful load releases multiple subjects after reaching the orbit. Although they are relatively small, minisatelits generally use the same technology as larger satellites.

The microsatellites have a wet mass between 10 and 100 kg (22–220 lb): roughly between the size of the small refrigerator and the microwave. Shortened "microsats" in space in space must not be confused with the same term genetics, which means something completely different. Microsats are popular with universities and companies who want to make space experiments but lack funds on ZHAjust satellite conventionally size. Since the current cost of launching something into space is about $ 5,000 for kg, Microsat starts still cost between $ 50,000 and $ 500,000.

nanosatelites or "nanosata" are another phase less than microsat. They have a wet matter between 1 and 10 kg (2.2–22 lb). Nanosatelites are about the size of the toaster and microwave. They are small enough that many of them can be deployed, so "swarms". Sometimes these swarms are coordinated with a central, larger satellite that sends data to the ground using stronger antennas. Complex docking procedures are also possible. Microsats and nanosata are small enough to require innovative drive, inspection of attitudes, communication and computing systems.

Picosatellites are the smallest, with a wet mask between 0.1 and 1 kg (0.22–2.2 lb), between the size of the toaster and the tennis ball. These are the smallest satellitesAnd some of the most interesting. Cubesat is a standardized version of a picosatellite with dimensions of 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. They are particularly popular on academic soil. Its dimensions are selected because the agency responsible for monitoring satellites and cosmic unsolicited only monitors objects of this size or larger.