Space done on the cheap
Students from MIT in the US have successfully launched a camera into near-space to capture photos of the earth from the stratosphere, using off-the-shelf components including a prepaid mobile phone and a styrofoam beer cooler. The whole box and dice cost under $US150.
The launch device reached an altitude of 17.5 miles and you can read about the whole project, and view the pictures taken by the homemade device, on the Icarus Project Web site. The students also plan to display the photos on YouTube (watch the Web site for details)
It’s refreshing to see that the old pioneering spirit is still alive and well and that such feats can still be achieved without spending billions of dollars.
Unfortunately, young Aussie science buffs wouldn’t have been able to have achieved this project. Not because they aren’t smart or innovative enough — hey, we rock when it comes to science innovation — but given what we pay here for tech devices of all types, they’d have been lucky to get the mobile phone for $150!
Gail Lipscombe has worked for some of Australia's hottest tech magazines for over 10 years. In her blog, she focuses on demystifying technology, gadgets and the web for average consumers.