Homemade satellites created by a company in Glasgow go on sale today.

The new PocketQube kits mean that anyone can take part in the space race for the price of a car.

The satellites are the smallest spacecraft ever to have flown at just five centimetres across.

They have an onboard computer and can be tracked on their journey through space.

The PocketQube Kit will cost around £4000, far cheaper than similar hardware that has gone on sale in the past.

Founder of the Glasgow-based firm, Tom Walkinshaw, said: "We are really excited to be bringing our PocketQube Kit to market.

"Our mission is to democratise low-cost access to space for planet earth and this kit is a key stepping stone to enabling this goal.

"We believe this could be a game-changer for getting new technologies flown in space quicker and educating the next generation of students."

PocketQubes were first proposed by leading academic Proffesor Bob Twiggs of Morehead State University (MSU), in order to tackle the escalating cost of launch for university groups on a tight budget.

There are currently four PocketQubes in orbit after a successful launch on a Russian Dnepr-1 rocket late last year.