They weigh just two kilograms and are shorter than a standard ruler but these miniature satellites could soon be Australia's powerful new tool to unlock secrets about the earth's atmosphere. 
Researchers from five Australian universities, including ANU, have built three miniaturised satellites known as "CubeSats" which be launched into space later this year as part of an international research mission.
Rigorous testing to ensure the satellites will survive in space began on Tuesday in Canberra at the ANU space simulator at the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre (ATIC) at Mount Stromlo.
The tests replicate the harsh temperature and atmospheric conditions these CubeSats need to withstand while in orbit in the ionosphere.
ATIC is the only space environment test facility in Australia.
"The three satellites will be part of the European Union QB50 Mission which is 50 satellites that will be launched to measure the upper thermosphere," Naomi Mathers from ATIC said.
Dr Mathers said smaller satellites were cheaper meaning more satellites could be sent to space and more data collected.
"If you put one very expensive large satellite up, you'll get one data set and that will be it and it'll cost you an awful lot of money, but if you have 50 satellites, you get 50 data sets and it hasn't cost you as much money," she said.
Each satellite costs about $1 million. Testing is expected to take two weeks, with the satellites expected to be launched into space later this year.
Collaboration leader Professor Iver Cairns from the University of Sydney said the three Australian CubeSats would be involved in various research such as looking at space weather and solar activity which will provide scientists with data for things like GPS, financial systems and even electricity grids.
"The big picture is that it's meant to be looking at the ionosphere and upper atmosphere of the earth... so it's really trying to study our environment, the environment of the earth in space," he said.
Built into the three satellites are instruments to measure atmosphere water and carbon dioxide levels. The third CubeSat, developed by the UNSW has the ability to self-repair should need be.
Researchers from ANU, the University of Sydney, UNSW, University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia were involved in building the three Australian satellites.
Twenty seven countries, including China, the US, Brazil and Russia, are taking part in the QB50 Mission which will do a mass launch of the satellites from the international space station.
Each satellite is fitted with a state of the art GPS system which will help scientists monitor the information collected on the density of the earth's ionosphere and its composition.
"That all goes into climate modelling and weather modelling and being able to track and predict weather," said Dr Matthew Tetlow from the University of Adelaide.