[addifttiest]

Go on have a go http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7049002.stm

[smokeberly]

hmm..

dont think a fan would be much use in space. seeing as theres no air.

[ttoothh]

hmm..

dont think a fan would be much use in space. seeing as theres no air.

Ah, but it's not to exhaust the hot air from the enclosure, it's to circulate the heat away from the components to the cool, metal shell of the sputnik. Space gets pretty cold, and a little enclosed sphere like that would provide some insulation against the cooling effects of near-space. Circulating the air would allow it to cool against the metal that is in contact with the cold space.

[dremucha]

Ah, but it's not to exhaust the hot air from the enclosure, it's to circulate the heat away from the components to the cool, metal shell of the sputnik. Space gets pretty cold, and a little enclosed sphere like that would provide some insulation against the cooling effects of near-space. Circulating the air would allow it to cool against the metal that is in contact with the cold space.

Circulating the air would would increase the number of individual air molecules coming in contact with the cold outer shell, and Turbulence in the air touching the outer shell would also improve the heat exchange, it's actually a pretty clever little design, someone should build a solar powered sputnik the size of a golf ball, and see if you can get it launched.

[kiosokkn]

it would need its own cooling system unless you plan on keeping it in the shadow of earth all the time. the sun doesnt exactly heat space since there's no atmosphere to excite but it would fry anything without thermal shielding. look at the poor moon when its surface isnt shaded

[Illirmpipse]

I haven't looked at the link, but the real problem for any satellite is actually getting it into orbit. And not just any orbit, but a stable one.

[Pataacculako]

You could even build one [a sputnik] yourself, as Paul Rubens explains... Isn't Paul Rubens, Pee Wee Herman?

[DiatryDal]

Just replace the Fan with the copper heatpipes by attaching them to the heat source and to the case. That will save a lot of weight and energy.

[pharmablogger]

Copper is going to be somewhat heavy compared to a plastic fan. Besides, the heat source isn't any of the components in the box - it's the Sun; without movement of air inside the box, the side facing the Sun will rapid raise the temperature of that area (case and air) but by circulating the air, some of that heat can be transferred to the opposite side.

[WaicurtaitfuT]

lol and in 50 years from now we´ll all be able to build our own MIR.