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A team of Brown University students and researchers recently launched a low-budget satellite called SBUDNIC with the goal of addressing the issue of “space junk.” Unexpectedly, the satellite reentered Earth’s atmosphere after just 445 days of being in space, marking an early return and promising results for the team.

Developed on a budget of approximately ,000 within a year, the satellite utilized readily available materials from common hardware stores, including 48 Energizer AA batteries. In comparison, other low-orbit satellites typically require several million dollars.

During its time in space, SBUDNIC collected temperature data and captured photos. However, its primary function was its descent back to Earth, facilitated by a 3D-printed drag sail. This method allows the satellite to avoid becoming additional space debris.

Currently, NASA estimates that there are over 27,000 inactive and discarded spacecraft fragments and mission-related debris orbiting the Earth. These pose risks to current and future space vehicles. SBUDNIC’s affordable design aimed to provide a cost-effective solution to address this growing issue.

The team was pleased with the satellite’s performance upon its return. The sail on SBUDNIC opened “well above” the orbit of the International Space Station, allowing for an early reentry. This successful de-orbiting underscores the possibility of implementing cost-effective strategies to combat space junk.

The results of the project indicate that there are viable plans for reducing space debris without exorbitant costs. The team hopes that their efforts will contribute to ongoing efforts to alleviate the space junk problem.

(Note: The original article contained author information, contact information, and references to external sources. These have been removed in the revised version.)

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