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March 16th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Cheap satellites, an oxymoron?
Modern satellites are very expensive to build and launch. With this in mind, DARPA wants a new breed of disposable mini satellites to provide reconnaissance to soldiers at the press of a button. DARPA is currently seeking input from manufacturers on the project.
DARPA wants the satellites to cost around $500,000 each, which is still expensive, but much cheaper compared to the millions of dollars that a traditional satellite can cost. DARPA wants to launch “constellations” of roughly 24 satellites that would stay in low Earth orbit for 60 to 90 days before plunging into the atmosphere and burning up on reentry.
“We envision a constellation of small satellites, at a fraction of the cost of airborne systems, that would allow deployed war fighters to hit ‘see me’ on existing handheld devices and in less than 90 minutes receive a satellite image of their precise location to aid in mission planning,” the agency says in a statement.
DARPA sheds some light on how satellite makers could reach the goal price and notes that the satellites would have to use rapid manufacturing techniques such as those associated with the smartphone industry to meet the price target.
The manufacturers also need to make some breakthroughs and advanced technology for optics, power, propulsion, and communications if the satellites are to meet the size and weight restrictions.
The satellites are being considered as an alternative to aerial drones commonly used by the military today. DARPA says that the issue with drones is that to cover as large an area as a satellite is able to cover, a drone would have to refuel frequently leaving the military without coverage.
“With a SeeMe constellation, we hope to directly support warfighters in multiple deployed overseas locations simultaneously with no logistics or maintenance costs beyond the warfighters’ handhelds,” said Dave Barnhart, the programme’s manager.
DARPA has proposers day set for March 27 to discuss the project.
DARPA’s director Regina Dugan announced this week that she was leaving the agency for a position at Google.
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