"Linux was shot into space Dec. 16, as part of a second-phase Air Force Research Laboratory program aimed at making space more 'operationally responsive.' The TacSat-2 (tactical satellite) program aims to create 'micro satellites' that can be launched quickly and cheaply, to support tactical military operations.
"Todd Brackett, PTR Group president, explains, 'Say the Marines are going to land on a beach, and you want a satellite's view of the situation, but you don't have access to one of the big national asset satellites...'"
