A quartet of small satellites, better known as CubeSats, flew high above California's Mojave Desert on June 15 on a demonstration mission to study the launch environment all the way from liftoff to landing. The spacecraft are being developed to help simplify and lower the cost of small-satellite missions that could fly on smaller, dedicated rockets. Although the rocket's parachute deployed prematurely and the vehicle tumbled to a hard landing, the flight is considered a success and a valuable learning opportunity. Teams now are retrieving their data and gearing up for another flight in the coming months.
17 июн 2013
