NASA Launches 10-Pound "Nanosatellite" Into Orbit

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - NASA has successfully launched a "nanosatellite" from its facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. NASA's 10-pound PharmaSat satellite will conduct a minor study into the growth, density and health of yeast cells grown in space.

"After a spectacular launch as a hitchhiker on the Tacsat-3 mission, we made contact with PharmaSat and confirmed that the spacecraft deployed successfully," NASA PharmaSat mission manager Bruce Yost said. "The PharmaSat mission and science teams are now preparing to complete the experiment on the yeast cultures."

According to NASA, about an hour after launch, engineers made contact with PharmaSat. Now, ground controllers will command PharmaSat to initiate its biological experiment, which will last approximately 96 hours.