Lockheed Martin, University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature satellites

摘要

Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services in King of Prussia, Pa., has joined hands with the University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature satellites to test space solutions. Lockheed Martin will pay for $450,000 of research and development projects at the university this year. Lockheed Martin and the University of Florida will use these satellites to investigate technological advances such as miniaturized, space-hardened GPS (global positioning system) electronics and state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin engineers will also perform payload data analysis for these satellite missions. The satellites, called CubeSats, are built in the shape of a cube, measuring 10 centimeters (less than four inches) on each side. They operate on a power output similar to a cell phone and weigh less than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). Cubesats can be built and launched relatively inexpensively and in a matter of months, compared to more sophisticated satellites that weigh thousands of pounds and cost millions of dollars to develop and launch, Lockheed Martin officials say.