Once launched in 2000 or 2001, Matthews' 50-kilogram satellite will turn its small telescope at one after another stellar target for a period of six or seven weeks each. With its collecting mirror of about 15 centimetres across, the telescope will collect information on the "ringing" of stars.

This ringing, or oscillating, is caused by sound waves bouncing around inside the star, whose paths are modified by the temperature and composition of gases through which they travel.

Armed with these data, the team of MOST astronomers led by Matthews hopes to measure the ages of some of the oldest stars in our galaxy, setting a meaningful limit on the age of the universe itself.

Efforts to measure the tiny oscillations of other Sun-like stars using a series of land-based telescopes are problematic because of atmospheric noise.

The MOST project represents a major breakthrough in the way microsatellites are used for space science, Matthews says. Because of their small size, microsatellites have traditionally been quite difficult to point accurately, making it useless to put a telescope aboard one.

This microsatellite can be positioned and repositioned from Earth thanks to four small spinning, gyroscope-like wheels. These "reaction wheels" are the only moving parts in the satellite and, when made to spin in varying directions by the Earth-based controller, cause the satellite to change orientation.

The $11-million project is a joint effort involving UBC, Dynacon Enterprises Ltd., and the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies. MOST is a mission proposed under the Small Payloads Program, sponsored by the Canadian Space Agency's Space Science Branch. Project approval from the CSA is contingent on approval of all funding contributions.