+ - SPAM: DARPA spends $38 million on virtual satellite net
Submitted
by
coondoggie
coondoggie writes "DARPA this week opened its giant wallet to spend over $38 million for the initial development of its advanced space technology program that ultimately aims to replace traditional "monolithic" spacecraft with clusters of wirelessly-interconnected spacecraft modules. The program, called the Future, Fast, Flexible, Fractionated, Free-Flying Spacecraft United by Information Exchange also known as the System F6, is intended to let the agency deploy individual pieces or what it calls "fractionated modules" of current all-in-one satellites. According to DARPA such a virtual satellite effectively constitutes a "bus in the sky" — wherein customers need only provide and deploy a payload module suited to their immediate mission need. In addition, there can be sharing of resources between various "spacecraft" that are within sufficient range for communication.DARPA said the within the F6 network all subsystems and payloads can be treated like a uniquely addressable computing peripheral or network device.
[spam URL stripped]"
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source
DARPA spends $38 million on virtual satellite net More Login
DARPA spends $38 million on virtual satellite net