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Small satellite
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{{short description|Satellites of low mass and size, usually under 1200 kg}} {{For|the DNA sequence|Microsatellite}} [[File:Estcube-1 2012-12-27.jpg|thumb|[[ESTCube-1]] 1U [[CubeSat]] ]] A '''small satellite''', '''miniaturized satellite''', or '''smallsat''' is a [[satellite]] of low mass and size, usually under {{convert|1200|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name=brycesmall>{{cite web |url=https://brycetech.com/reports/report-documents/Bryce_Smallsats_2020.pdf |title=Smallsats by the Numbers |date=January 1, 2020 |website=brycetech.com }}</ref> While all such satellites can be referred to as "small", different classifications are used to categorize them based on [[mass]]. Satellites can be built small to reduce the large economic cost of [[launch vehicle]]s and the costs associated with construction. Miniature satellites, especially in large numbers, may be more useful than fewer, larger ones for some purposes β for example, [[Satellite#Applications|gathering of scientific data]] and [[radio relay]]. Technical challenges in the construction of small satellites may include the lack of sufficient [[power storage]] or of room for a [[spacecraft propulsion|propulsion system]].
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