Unwrapping devices like smartphones and tablets is sure to bring people joy on Christmas Day. Some future-oriented folks may even get a 3-D printer or a toy drone.

But what about a personal satellite?

Zac Manchester is one of the many people trying to make that device a reality. Next fall, his KickSat project plans to launch 250 cracker-size satellites into space, and someday, he believes, these gizmos will find their way under the tree.

He wants to develop gear that's "cheap enough for average people to build and fly their own satellite ... I'm trying to make the space Arduino."

He's talking about cheap Arduino circuit boards. Used mostly for earthbound robots, Arduino has been one of the technologies fueling the do-it-yourself tech movement. Free software and plummeting hardware costs have made designing and building new gizmos that were once the fantasies of "Star Trek" a reality. Search around the Internet and you'll find guides and instructional videos on how to build everything from automatic plant waterers to remote-controlled drones.

Space travel has been no exception. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and his company SpaceX, along with countless researchers and weekend warriors, have stepped in to fill the void left by NASA's closure of the space shuttle program.

Now working out of NASA's Ames Research Center, Manchester decided to finance his project through crowdsourced funding site Kickstarter. Illustrating the DIY community's hunger for new space-exploration tools, people donated over $74,000 - more than double the $30,000 Manchester had asked for. (You can learn more about his project online at www.spacecraftresearch.com.)


The little gizmos are comprised of a radio transceiver, solar panels for power and a very small computer to store information and operate the sensors - all crammed onto a surface the size of a small cracker. Once Manchester and team have maneuvered the container into the correct position, they'll release the Sprites, like a fish releasing eggs.

The Chronicle caught up with Manchester to ask him a few questions. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: OK, so what are the Sprites going to do?



A: The most important capability that we're adding thanks to the extra funding is "attitude control," the ability for the (container) to turn, spin, or point itself. We're going to use the attitude-control system to make sure the Sprites are pointed at the sun before we release them, which will help ensure that their solar panels can generate enough power.



Q: How hard are they to build on your own?

A: All of the designs and code are freely available online. You can hand-assemble your own for around $20 if you have the right tools and some patience. Or you can send the designs to a number of companies that will manufacture one for you.



Q: NASA has closed its space shuttle program - what does that mean for do-it-yourself space exploration?





