Sprite Kicksat Mini satellites launch into orbit aboard SpaceX Falcon9 rocket

"Sprite" mini femtosatellites that are now in orbit. Credit: Zac Manchester

After years of planning and several last-minute delays, about 100 Cornell-developed mini femtosatellites demonstrating space flight at its simplest have launched into orbit and are now circling Earth.

With just a laptop, antenna and a few other basics, space flight enthusiasts can listen for signals sent by the cracker-sized "sprites" that launched April 18 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of NASA's CRS-3 mission.

Still inside their mothership craft, the sprites are scheduled to deploy on May 4 to become the smallest free-flying spacecraft.

Zac Manchester

The project is called KickSat and has been led by Zac Manchester '09, now a graduate student in aerospace engineering, since he was an undergraduate doing research with Mason Peck, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University.

Sprites are mini satellites stripped down to their most basic components: a microcontroller, transceiver and solar cells for power.

Manchester took the project to Kickstarter in 2011 to see if amateur space enthusiasts would help fund the venture.

More than 300 people sponsored KickSat and were allowed to transmit whatever signal they wanted from it – for example, their initials or a message to a loved one.

The KickSat housing is engraved with the sponsors' names.

The sprites are housed inside a 3U CubeSat, which is a small satellite frequently used in space research.

The 3U CubeSat is aboard a capsule that separates from the shuttle, which continues to the International Space Station.

The KickSat 3U CubeSat is second in line to deploy.

The big event – when the sprites leave the spacecraft and begin transmitting signals – will be the afternoon of May 4 (subject to change). Manchester has been updating his Kickstarter blog with mission information.

"After a beautiful launch at 3:25 this afternoon [April 18], KickSat was deployed in low Earth orbit. We at Cornell and several amateur radio operators around the world have made contact with the spacecraft, and it is alive and well. I can't thank all of you enough for your tremendous support over the past two years. Thank you for believing in KickSat!"

Deltaprintr offers cheap easy to use 3D printer - Kickstarter

Two college students (Shai Schechter and Andrey Kovalev) have launched a Kickstarter project aimed at bringing an easy to use and affordable 3D printer to the masses—one they have designed themselves.

Called the Deltaprintr, the device is a novel pole based design that uses fishing line instead of traditional belts.

By using an open air design (and fishing line) instead of the traditional Cartesian style box, the Deltaprintr allows for quicker printing (it eliminates the need for the print-head to perform unnecessary movements) easy expansion (the ability to print taller objects)—and for more easily performing leveling calibration (it's automatic in some instances), something that can't be said for most other 3D printers being sold.

But what truly sets the Deltaprintr apart is price: one fully assembled printer costs just $675. Surprisingly, the low price doesn't mean giving up quality either—the Deltaprintr 's 4mm tip is capable of 100 micron resolution.


The printer in its default configuration allows for printing objects up to 12 inches high, but that can be increased by the owner replacing the fishing line with longer strands.

Schechter and Kovalev also promise to allow for printing taller creations in the future when they will offer longer side rails.

One drawback (though some may consider it a positive attribute) is that the printer only prints using 1.75mm PLA (as opposed to ABS plastic). The upside is that the bed doesn't get hot and create a burn hazard.

Another attribute of the Deltaprintr is its simple elegance—watching it in action is reminiscent of scenes from utopian sci-fi movies where everything works easily and smoothly and in many cases, with grace.

That perfectly describes this new type of printer with its print-head dancing in the air as it lays down layer upon layer of new material, creating, for the most part, works of art.

The design has clearly captured the imagination of online visitors to Kickstarter—the goal of $195,000 has nearly been met, and orders have already exceeded initial expectations.

What's perhaps even more promising is the prospect of even cheaper models in the future should sales grow to the point of allowing mass production.

KickSat co-creator, team launches new 'Pocket Spacecraft' project on Kickstarter

One of the team members who successfully launched KickSat on Kickstarter has started a new project called "Pocket Spacecraft" with the aim of launching thousands of CD shaped "space craft" into space and landing them back on Earth or on the moon.

KickSat project was designed to allow anyone (for a small price) to put a tiny satellite aboard a rocket and have it launched and sent into an orbit around Earth.

That Kickstarter project reached its funding goals and is now scheduled for launch sometime later this year.

Upload a profile picture/avatar (left) or school, club or company pennant (middle) to a shared spacecraft, or customise the whole of your Earth or Lunar Scout personal spacecraft! (right)

In this new project, the team wants to give anyone who wishes to do so, the opportunity to send a craft to space and back, or more optimistically, to the moon.

At the heart of the project is the Pocket Spacecraft—it's shape and size is similar to a DVD only smaller and much thinner.

The idea is to pack thousands of them onto a craft that is itself put aboard a rocket.

Upon launch, some of the Pocket Spacecraft will be released into space where they will fall back to Earth—others will continue on to the moon where they will be set free to crash-land onto its surface.

Each Pocket Spacecraft is up for sale—those who wish to purchase one can upload pictures or messages to it, or even add some programming. Each has a solar panel on it, electronic circuitry and communications gear that will allow for its owner to track its movements with their cell phone.

Prices for the Pocket Spacecraft vary depending on whether the buyer wants their craft to fall back to Earth (Earth Scout-£99), or travel on to the moon (Lunar Scout-£199).

Other options are also available to allow for groups to share a craft.

Many of the craft are expected to survive falling to Earth—those falling to moon's surface, on the other hand will perish.

Pocket Mission Control will allow you to monitor your spacecraft telemetry (d), onboard apps (e), your training achievements (f), ground station status (g), and where your spacecraft is in space (h) 

Those who sign up to the project and buy a craft will be able to watch as their Pocket Spacecraft is made, tested, packed and carried to a rocket for launch.

On its Kickstarter page, the team says they hope to collect the £290,000 goal needed for the project to proceed, and that if all goes as planned, would like to create a similar project for launching tiny craft to other planets in the solar system as well.