SPACE.com:
Miniaturization is all the rage now in such devices as laptop
computers and cell phonesâmdash;and now
satellites can be added to the list. Nanosatellites, some no
bigger than a Klondike ice cream bar, can contain the same
components as their full-size counterparts but cost less and
create less space debris. And because of their small size, they
don't require a dedicated launch vehicle; they can piggyback on
someone else's rocket. Although nanosatellites cannot replace
larger satellites for some experiments, they are proving
invaluable in certain fields of study, such as astrobiology.
