A team of engineering students from Brown University has developed a small cube satellite to address the issue of space debris. Named SBUDNIC, the satellite was constructed using inexpensive, off-the-shelf materials, making it a low-budget solution to a growing problem. Most satellites remain in orbit for over 25 years, leading to a significant amount of space junk. Currently, there are over 27,000 pieces of space debris orbiting Earth.

SBUDNIC was launched into space on Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket for a production cost of $10,000. It is estimated to have a lifespan of only five years, significantly shorter than traditional satellites. To combat this issue, the students added a 3D-printed drag sail made from Kapton polyimide film. The sail helped accelerate the satellite’s descent back to Earth when deployed, reducing the risk of it becoming long-lasting space debris.

SBUDNIC’s quick descent was evident as it was found at a lower altitude compared to other similarly sized satellites. While other satellites remained in orbit at 450 kilometers or higher, SBUDNIC was recorded at 146 kilometers before burning up in the atmosphere due to reentry heat. The success of this low-cost satellite could potentially revolutionize efforts to tackle the growing problem of space debris, ensuring a safer environment for current and future space missions.

Sources: NASA, Brown University

The post Brown University Students Build Low-Cost Satellite to Combat Space Debris appeared first on TS2 SPACE.