Spanish scientists from the Institute of Aerospace Technologies INTA have developed the ANSER CubeSat satellite, which can change its position in orbit using “wings” – special panels that capture weak air currents in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. In this respect reports European Space Agency (ESA).
According to the project, a constellation of three ANSER CubeSats will be located at an altitude of approximately 500 km above the surface of the planet and 10 km apart. The devices do not have any propulsion system, but a series of wings will allow them to adjust their height and move in different directions.
Without the engine, the lifespan of the ANSER cluster would be limited to two or three years, depending on their initial altitude.
ANSER CubeSats are about the size of a shoebox. They were designed for space-based observation of lakes and reservoirs in the Iberian region of Spain using cameras and spectrometers. Satellite readings will give scientists information about the pollution of water bodies and the emergence of toxic microorganisms, including phytoplankton.
Earlier astronomers warned About the increasing threat of massive satellite collisions in Earth orbit.