Description
To approximate the dynamics presented by these missions, the testbed consists of three miniaturized satellites, microsatellites or "spheres," which can control their relative positions and orientations, and is operable on a 2-D laboratory platform, NASA's KC-135, and the International Space Station. The testbed is being developed jointly by the MIT Space Systems Laboratory and Aurora Flight Sciences (Formerly Payload Systems, inc.), with funding from the Department of Defense and several NASA centers.
The battery-powered, 8-inch-diameter (200 mm) satellites fly within the ISS cabin using carbon dioxide to fuel 12 thrusters.
Read more about this topic: SPHERES
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