[Satellite TODAY 03-05-10] NASA has started an initiative to launch small cube-shaped satellites, dubbed CubeSats, as auxiliary payloads on launch vehicles already scheduled for 2011 and 2012, the agency announced March 1.
    The satellites will be used for educational and non-profit research. Each spacecraft will be about 4 inches in size, weigh no more than 2.2 pounds and carry a mass volume of about 1 quart.
    Research organizations can pay NASA a partial reimbursement of about $30,000 per CubeSat for personal use after submitting a proposal due by April 15, the agency said.