The most incredible things about the STRaND-1, of course, is the fact that many of its core components are built into the smartphone. From accelerometers to processors, cameras to antennas, a smartphone has most of the gear you need to operate a satellite.
Weighing in at 4.3kg with a height of just 30 centimeters, this miniscule orbiter is the latest iteration of an increasingly popular way to explore space: nanosatellites.
The STRaND-1 (Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator) was developed by Surrey Satellite Technology LTD and the University of Surrey’s Space Center.
The STRaND-1 will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India on February 25 aboard the Indian Space Research Organization’s Polar Satellite Launch vehicle. Godspeed nanosat, godspeed.
Watch an animation of the satellite below:
Images and Video Courtesy of Surrey Satellite Technology LTD