Astranis

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/astranis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Astranis?350 kg
2. What is the headquarters?San Francisco, California
3. What is the initial prototype satellite?DemoSat-2, a 3U CubeSat launched in 2018
4. How do Astranis satellites stay connected to the internet?Astranis satellites use software‑defined radios, which let engineers change how the satellite talks to the ground even after it is already in space. This keeps the satellite up to date and helps fix problems.
5. Why are Astranis satellites smaller and cheaper than other satellites?Astranis makes the satellites smaller and lighter so they cost less to build and launch. The smaller size also lets them be more flexible and easier to update.

Geostationary Orbit: An orbit approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above Earth's equator, where a satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotation.
Software-Defined Radio (SDR): A radio communication system that relies on software to perform signal processing functions, allowing for dynamic updates and flexibility.
Venture Funding: Capital provided by investors to startups and small businesses with perceived long-term growth potential, often in exchange for equity.
Digital Divide: The gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard to their opportunities to access information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their use of the Internet to benefit from them.