SPACE.com: Miniaturization is all the rage now in such devices as laptop computers and cell phones—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.
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