Sputnik in a biscuit tin challenge

By at 11:21 am Monday, Oct 22

The BBC is challenging readers to build their own "Sputnik in a biscuit tin," using today's marvellous household objects to recapitulate the birth of the space program:

In simple terms, the Sputnik satellite was a metal sphere almost 2ft (61cm) in diameter, containing a radio transmitter. It also had a battery; equipment to measure temperature; barometric and temperature activated switches; and a fan to stop it getting too hot.

It sent its famous "beep beep" radio signals to earth, altering the transmission to indicate changes in temperature or a sudden drop in pressure caused by a puncture in the satellite's case. And that's about it.

You could probably find most of these components lying around your home. There are transmitters in mobile or cordless phones, wireless internet routers and baby monitors, and you may well have a thermometer in the medicine cabinet.

Link (Thanks, Bonnie!)

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Cory Doctorow

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