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Spinoff story
Flock of Nanosatellites Provides a Daily Picture of Earth
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
While working at Ames Research Center, physicist Chris Boshuizen helped start the PhoneSat project, which aims to make satellites more affordable to build and launch without sacrificing performance. He took those same ideas with him when he cofounded San Francisco-based Planet Labs Inc. in 2011. The company is launching flocks of nanosatellites made from cheap, off-the-shelf parts that will provide a daily snapshot of Earth, benefitting a range of industries.