NASA | So, You Want to Build a Satellite?

Part 2: Putting It Together

Building satellites isn't easy. They're complex, expensive, and not to mention hard to make! This is why whenever NASA makes a new satellite--like the MAVEN mission to Mars--its scientists and engineers do everything they can to make sure it's done right.

Now, putting a satellite together is nothing like putting together, say, an office chair. A single bolt can take hours to install, and you can't even imagine how complex the electronics are! Find out more about the whole process in this video!


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[sheenestevez]

What happens if you build your own satellite without permission and you launch it how would nasa even find out and there’s no space police

[Anonymoose]

Well done! If people only knew what it *really* takes. The components that go into a satellite that lives for 20 years untouched in space are NOT off the shelf at Walmart.

[hayz]

l wish there was a portal 3


by the way cool episode can you make an episode on what materials you'll need for a satellite try to make it under 100 dollars

[AnotherPostcard]

I love how they changed the outro to match the style of the rest of the video. A nice touch. :)

[chnk]

When did Cave Johnson take over Nasa?

[Anonymoose]

@BahoUtot,
Yes, there are. But only because they were already fabricated "from scratch" to the tight standards and specs demanded by such applications. A lot of common hardware is produced in quantity, certified, and stocked for use as needed. But when you specify that nut and that bolt in a design, you know where they came from, and you know they were made "from scratch." They were not picked out of a bin at Discount Auto Parts.

[HunterKutz]

This is a very underrated video that needs more views.

[zulubro]

So if I want to build satellites, what fields of study do I need to take?

[ajf]

@Dioxholster They have been making these videos for quite awhile, and I have been watching ever since. When they first started making them funding actually wasnt much of an issue, so if they were going to make a statement and try to get more money they would prob do something new or different....Also, I hope they do get more funding, since they deserve it and it will be one of the most crucial things in our future.

[crazycousined]

@MinotawrTV "So you're somebody who wants to build a satellite to go around Mars" - Mars is, at its closest, about 35 million miles away.

[Saukko]

Haha, brilliant video. Thumbs up, NASA.

[Jrcraft]

How much would it be to launch something and a secondary payload saying 50 grams?

[NJCProductions]

@MinotawrTV Voyager I and II are about to make that distance dude.

[BahoUtot]

Wow really, everything from scratch? Bet there's tons of prefabricated satellite parts sitting in one supplier's warehouse somewhere just waiting for a drawing. not to mention the boxes of hightemp screws and bolts in variety of sizes.

[gurd]

@romanali1 Thats amount included more then just air conditioning in there report :/ . Not saying its good either, but yeah

[johnswolter]

Where is the docs that show all the requirements NASA satellites & parts meet. Add the processes needed and testing procedures. Lots to read here

[dmfalk]

Serious nod to Douglas Adams, here! :)

d.m.f.

[PoopiDScoop]

@losttreasurehunt
well i should say it could be done but to no effect whatsoever.

[dmfalk]

@eeirertomb - Yep-- Their 2009 budget was a mere $700 million, and Congress continues to whittle away even from that. Most of the funding for specific projects- MAVEN, for example- comes from a pool of resources- Universities, corporations and other space agencies (usually ESA, JAXA and others) for various instruments and projects.

d.m.f.

[slugfly]

@aserta This guy can't hold a candle to Cave Johnson. :)