Computer miniaturization could enable fleets of small satellites for communications and reconnaissance
WASHINGTON – With much of the commercial space industry focused on putting small satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), how quickly will the U.S. military follow? Space.com reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
13 April 2020 -- Companies are shifting away from traditional large satellites towards small satellites. cubesats in LEO have been increasingly used in space since the 1990s.
In recent years, advances in camera technology and computer miniaturization have enabled companies to do optical imaging or radar observations using smaller and smaller satellites.
This has led to the present day, where companies ranging from OneWeb to SpaceX and Planet have been deploying large fleets of satellites, which eventually could include thousands of individual satellites, for applications ranging from telecommunications and Earth observation, to military reconnaissance and tactical communications.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
