Friday, March 27, 2009

Lockheed, UF to develop mini satellites

Lockheed Martin has partnered with the University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature satellites to test innovative space concepts. Lockheed will fund $450,000 of research and development projects at the university this year. The satellites will be used to investigate, among other things, miniaturized, space-hardened GPS electronics and state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The satellites, called CubeSats, are cube-shaped, measuring less than four inches per side and operating on a power output similar to a cell phone. The work will complement work of the UF-led Advanced Space Technologies Research & Engineering Center, ASTREC. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 03/26/09) Gulf Coast note: UF has several engineering-related research programs in Shalimar, near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola, Fla., is a participating member of ASTREC.