CubeSats are miniature satellites with cutting edge technology and aerospace innovation. They are small units measuring 10x10x10 cm and can be put together to form larger bodies.
Each unit is known as a "U." Developed in the late 1990s, they provide a way for universities and organizations to access space. CubeSats can be modular, combining for a larger payload.
Payload is the main equipment carried by a craft. It can be data gathering instruments, observational or communications devices. See a video of successful CubeSat launch (CSA/NASA).
To function, CubeSats need:
Antenna and radio communication system, which sends and receives information to and from Earth.
Power source, like a solar panel or simply a battery.
Computer, which executes instructions to ensure proper functioning of the satellite.
CubeSats are a class of NanoSats or small satellites. Compact size, versatility and cost below $100,000 enable many scientific, independent, educational and commercial applications.
Over 2300 CubeSats have been launched and 4000 NanoSats altogether. They're often part of larger missions.
Properties and Characteristics
CubeSats are lightweight in design, weighing 1 - 10 kg (2.2 - 22 lb) per unit, which simplifies launch process. NASA's DART CubeSat weighs 6 kg (13.2 lb), successfully demonstrates this light weight in its mission.
The 2022 project DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) encompasses 2 missions over 10 months. It involves researchers from dozens of institutions located across Europe, the US and other countries like Japan and Uruguay.
Italy supplies a CubeSat camera for the journey. The mission successfully knocks the distant asteroid Dimorphos out of its regular orbit.
CubeSats have a standardized design, which streamline manufacturing. Off-the-shelf components are easily available, encouraging rapid assembly and deployment.
Modular architecture enables a variety of instruments and payloads. These include sensors for atmospheric monitoring, cameras for Earth observation, and communication systems tailored to specific goals.
Materials and Construction
CubeSats are made from lightweight materials like aluminum (mostly), titanium, carbon fiber, and plastics. Tungsten or molybdenum may be used. Exterior is coated to withstand intense radiation and extreme temperatures.
The radiator coating is SiOx, over an aluminized polyimide film. Total thickness is 0.05 mm. Polyimide film is known commercially as Kapton. The coating is bonded to CubeSat exterior using an acrylic transfer adhesive.
This allows the CubeSat to withstand fluctuations from -167 to +121°C (-250 to +250°F). Inside is a careful arrangement of components to maximize operational efficiency and reduce risk of malfunctions.
CubeSats typically feature lower bus voltages and power needs. The power system functions on batteries or can be directly supplied by solar panels, with additional support from secondary rechargeable batteries.
Operation and Onboard Computers
CubeSats rely on onboard computers in conjunction with ground control teams for operation. The onboard systems manage data collection, telemetry, and communication with Earth.
Most CubeSats include sensors to monitor their health, enabling real-time adjustments. For example the Hawaiian-based Aloha-1 CubeSat can adjust its communication parameters based on sensor feedback.
Ground support teams send commands and receive data to facilitate autonomous operations and ensuring mission goals are achieved. CubeSats are considered potential space debris as popularity skyrockets.
Space debris or space junk is defunct human-made objects in space, principally in Earth orbit, which no longer serve a useful function. These include derelict spacecraft and mission-related castoffs.
Starlink satellites, for example, have a lifespan of five years. After that they are supposed to enter the atmosphere and burn up. CubeSats last from 3 months to just over a year. 70% are de-orbited while still operational.
Particularly populous in Earth orbit is fragmentation debris from breakup of old rocket bodies and spacecraft. Space debris also includes fragments from disintegration, erosion, or collisions.
Solidified liquids expelled from spacecraft, unburned particles from solid rocket motors, and even paint flecks contribute to space debris. It creates a number of hazards to spacecraft.
About 200-400 space junk objects re-enter the atmosphere each year. At least a hundred of these survive re-entry to strike Earth.
Purposes and Applications
Scientific Research: CubeSats are used in Earth observation, climate monitoring, and space weather studies.
Technology Demonstration: Cost-effectiveness permits quick testing of new technologies in space.
Since way back in 2011 the US military, not surprisingly, has the idea to refine CubeSats for warfare. Satellites are used in spy technology (reconnaissance). It's overtly illegal for CubeSats to contain explosives.
Launching CubeSats: Who Can Do It?
Universities, research institutions, and private companies can launch CubeSats by following necessary regulations and obtaining required licenses. With enough money anyone can do it.
Launch opportunities may arise by collaborations with larger missions. In 2021 a US/private space mission includes over 80 CubeSats as secondary payloads. In 2020, the US launches a record 300 CubeSats in one mission.
Militarization and Weaponization
Many concerns arise about CubeSat militarization, just as in drone warfare. Due to their compact size and affordability, some CubeSats are easily adapted for surveillance and other purposes.
Regulations surrounding satellite launches and ethical considerations are sketchy. Collaborative efforts among nations to regulate space use can conflict with collaborative private, commercial and military interests.
Independence of Operation
CubeSats can operate autonomously. They're programmed to perform tasks, collect data, and make real-time adjustments without direct input from ground control.
This independence is beneficial, especially when communication is not feasible. It allows the spacecraft to make decisions based on its interpretation of incoming data, such as environmental or potential danger signals.
In 2024, a NASA CubeStat detects formation of two new temporary belts of high-energy particles encircling Earth. They're created by the biggest solar storm in 20 years, in May 2024.
These findings are especially troublesome for spacecraft entering geostationary orbits. They risk damage passing through the belts. In the mid 2020s the proliferation of CubeSats continues to dominate markets.
CubeSat Market size was valued at USD 516.6 Mn. in 2024 and revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2025 to 2032. It's calculated to be 1.6 billion USD by 2033.
While the space program is ostensibly created for the benefit of humanity, major forces influencing the system may have outside interests. These range from commercial and political to speculative.
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