Tiny satellites are enabling space research by small groups of scientists, and are moving out of academic circles into industry-- and eventually may reach hobbyists.

CubeSat is a small, Kleenex-boxed sized satellite platform. Developed for use by university researchers, CubeSat allows groups to build satellites for under $50,000. While the devices have long been regarded as curiosities, improvements in sensors, photovoltaics, batteries, and operating systems have increased the utility of "nanosats". Scientists are working on CubeSats that can swarm and collaborate, together giving them capabilities that might eventually match those of more conventional satellites.

Nanosats are becoming cheaper and more accessible. The KatySat project is developing nanosats for high school students, and established aerospace companies and the miliary-- and a small number of enthusiasts-- are beginning to experiment with CubeSat. As one developer puts it, "We think of the CubeSat as the personal computer of space."

Combined with the growth of private spaceports and lower-cost launch vehicles, nanosats could reach a wider audience within a few years.