Now imagine plugging a device about the size of a standard USB WiFi adapter into your computer, setting up an antenna, and being able to receive news and information from orbiting satellites even when you can’t get access to the Internet. But instead of these satellites being owned and operated by a government or corporation, imagine they were completely under the control of ordinary citizens. Such a network would be indispensable for combating corrupt governments, organizing rescue operations in areas stricken by natural disasters, and providing information to third world countries that don’t have a telecommunications infrastructure. But, can it be done?
Repost: Hackers in Space
13 Saturday Oct 2012
Posted in Guests and Reposts
It can certainly be done, and it probably *will* be done eventually. At some point the cost of getting equipment into orbit will get low enough that, in principle, anyone can do it. The cost of the equipment itself is already cheap enough that anyone can buy / make it. I mean, you can basically make a satellite from an Arduino board and other components you can pick up at your local Radio Shack.
My personal guess is that in the not-so-far future, people will be able to buy space on microsatellite launch vehicles shot into orbit from hydrogen cannons. Yeah, hydrogen cannons. Here: http://www.universetoday.com/51532/hydrogen-gas-cannons-could-launch-payloads-to-orbit-wvideo/