ClimateAugust 7, 2026

smallsats

SMAWL-sats

Definition

A class of small, lightweight artificial satellites, typically having a mass of less than 500 kilograms, often used for modular space exploration or instrumentation.

Etymology

The term is a portmanteau of the English words 'small' and 'satellites', which itself originates from the Latin 'satelles', meaning an attendant or guard.

In the news

In the context of modern space research, smallsats are increasingly utilized as cost-effective platforms for astronomical observations and data collection in orbit.

JWST Transmission Spectroscopy Of TOI-3235 b: Challenges In Constraining Giant Planet Atmospheres Around M Dwarfs Amid Stellar Contamination

Read the full article ↗

astrobiology.com

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