When it comes to sending electronic components into space, costs are sky high (no pun intended), and especially dependant on size and weight. The solution to this, according to Dr Ing. Marc Azzopardi, Darren Cachia, and Jonathan Camilleri, is the PocketQube––a combination of off-the-shelf components and new, clever ideas.
The beginnings of this research project go back to 2014. The aim was to find an affordable solution when sending a device into space. Standardisation and miniaturisation proved key. 'It may be a very small satellite… but the effort going into it is immense.'
Weighing in at just 250g and measuring 5cm on each side, this little satellite will be able to study certain properties of the Earth’s ionosphere and effectively predict what effect they could have on the operation of communications systems such as GPS.
If smartphones’ prices reduced over time, why can’t satellites go down the same route?
The small size of the satellite makes the job of improving it tedious at times. One of the persistent issues, for instance, is whether the power supply and batteries would fit. That and the fact that the device needs to be able to withstand extreme temperature swings, among other factors. Constant testing has been carried out using different materials to discover what can and can’t be used.
If this works out, the outcome could present an opportunity for the University of Malta and Malta to have a space program.
For more, read the in-depth feature in THINK magazine at
