NASA to Build 'Nanosats' for Space Network

The NASA Ames Research Center announced that it is partnering with GPS sensor company M2Mi to develop small satellites known as "nanosats." The satellites will be part of a low-Earth orbit telecommunications network that NASA is planning for use in the commercial sector. According to Ames Center Director Pete Worden, "NASA wants to work with companies to develop a new economy in space."

NASA has been working with M2Mi for at least two years on developing machine to machine communications, or machine to machine intelligence (M2Mi). The two entities recently signed a third research and development agreement and M2Mi maintains a research facility at NASA's Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.

The nano-satellites will weigh between 11 and 110 pounds and will be sent into low-Earthorbit in clusters. While many of us are not yet on 3G, these clusters will form 5G communications networks involving voice over IP, video, and data exchange. According to M2Mi CEO Geoff Brown, "The constellation will provide a robust, global, space-based, high-speed network for communication, data storage, and Earth observations."

[via CNET]

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