Feb. 1, 2000
Weber State's JAWSAT experiment really didn't get chomped up in the jaws of space, afterall.
NASA confirms all four satellites housed in a 30 inch square cube designed by Weber State researchers
were launched successfully.
Here's Science Specialist Ed Yeates.
The satellites are working and communicating back to earth, but the little Weber State device called a controller is still in limbo, waiting for a backup solar power system to recharge.
But it was never lost. The tiny system is still attached to the box along with a NASA experiment inside - and both are exactly where they're supposed to be.
NASA and Weber State are intentionally not sending any commands to the unit until its backup power is fully charged.
"If the controller works, it could revolutionize the satellite industry by allowing humans a way to control and position birds as large as a television set, down to those as small as a deck of cards."
In fact, six additional picosatellites deployed in this mission are the size of a deck of cards.
Scientists say the days of large, cumbersome satellites are numbered. With smaller devices, there's no room for rockets and boosters, just small controllers which can position the birds where they're wanted.
Weber State holds the patent on the unit. If it succeeds and actually moves the box with the NASA experiment inside, Weber designers could easily revolutionize the satellite industry.
If it fails, it's back to the drawing board.
JAWSAT was launched last Wednesday from California on a rocket fashioned from a recycled Minuteman II missile.
More Info From JAWSAT Web Site:
cast.weber.edu/jawsat/
