Next Luxury Item: Personal Satellites?

July 10, 2006 — For the man or woman who has everything, how about a satellite?

The world's first personal earth-orbiter — a 44-pound box, less than ten inches on its side — is now available for purchase from Japan-based Astro Research Corporation.

Not only could MySat-1 be the perfect gift for that special someone, it could also make space more accessible to commercial businesses, public institutions and research communities.

Among its potential uses could be satellite component testing, disaster monitoring, Earth observation, remote sensing, even advertising.

"MySat-1 itself can be launched within a year-and-a-half after an order is placed," said Kio Murakawa, a manager in the MySat Division at Astro Research.

Such a fast turnaround time from contract to orbit is unheard of when it comes to conventional satellites, which typically launch around three to five years after an order is placed and can cost between $10 million and $20 million.

The solar-powered system costs about $860,000, which covers the cost of the satellite, launch and operational services, as well as a satellite launch field trip and a satellite location notification service.

Each satellite can be customized to the owner's needs and equipped with additional instruments depending on the user's needs.

A four-cubic inch container called MyBox is designed to hold any MySat-1 payload weighing up to 11 pounds. MySat-1 can fly in low earth orbit for more than 20 years, possibly more than 30.

Payloads can be versatile, such mementos and ashes. Scientists can use instruments to conduct microgravity experiments, and commercial firms can have a space-based advertising platform.

Once in low earth orbit, about 600 to 800 kilometers in space, MySat-1 will circle the earth about 14 times per day. Owners can also tune in to their satellite's radio signal on a Web site to monitor its location and listen to it as it passes overhead.

MySat-1's capabilities and cost savings are impressive, but depending on the user, it may still be too expensive, said Tom Segert, an aerospace engineer at Technical University of Berlin. Segert is developing an inexpensive folding telescope that can be purchased and launched by private as well as commercial entities.

According to Segert, universities in Denmark, Germany and the United States are starting to build two-pound satellites for research purposes and spending between $100,000 and $200,000. That could reduce the customer base and profit for Astro Research.

"If you want to have 10 to 100 customers, you have to reduce the price," said Segert.

Segert also pointed out that personal satellites could contribute to the problem of space junk. If defective satellites remain in space for many years, their accumulation could pose a threat to working satellites or space missions.

A demonstration satellite called ARCSat-X, featuring a wide range of technologies, is scheduled for a flight test in winter 2007. But Astro Research is ready to take orders for the technologically simpler MySat-1, which could be ready as early as next June.