Researchers at the Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, plan to build and launch into space a fleet of coordinated miniature satellites.
The project, which will be unveiled officially on Monday, is the first time scientists will attempt such a procedure. “This is the first time in the world that scientists will attempt sending three satellites together in a controlled formation,” project head Professor Pini Gurfil said. “Until now, this has not been possible because of their size and weight and the problems of dispatching multiple satellites in a uniform formation and their remaining in space for a long time.”
Gurfil praised the practical implications of a successful launch, saying that such satellites could be utilized to locate individuals that are lost, missing, or in distress.