What Is a CubeSat and Why Is It So Popular?

Space used to be very expensive, exclusive and slow until the beginning of the 2000s.

Construction of a satellite took between five to ten years. To launch one, one had to get a rare and expensive rocket slot. This was only possible to major space agencies and the defence contractors.

Then came the CubeSat.

A satellite made standardized into 10-centimeter cubes. Inexpensive to construct, quick to design and lightweight enough to be deployed as a secondary payload. And suddenly universities were putting out spacecraft. Imaging systems were under testing by startups. Smaller nations were taking orbit with no billion-dollar budgets.

CubeSats not only made satellites smaller, they redefined the space economics.

Thousands of CubeSats have been launched in the last 20 years making Low Earth Orbit a laboratory in the rapid experimentation and commercial innovation space.

Large spacecrafts no longer define the space industry. It is getting more influenced by smaller and modular systems which are much faster and cheaper.

What Exactly Is a CubeSat?

A CubeSat is a small satellite which is constructed in the standardized cube units. The fundamental unit or unit of measurement is known as a 1U, which is 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and averages 1 to 1.3 kg. Units are combined together to form larger CubeSats:

• 2U (two units stacked)
• 3U
• 6U
• 12U and beyond

This is a standardized structure which makes production easier and less expensive. Developers are no longer required to develop the spacecrafts on a case-by-case basis as modular systems can be assembled with the help of commercially available components.

CubeSats are typically carried to outer space by larger rockets as second-stage payloads. This implies that they will be carried along with larger satellites thus saving a lot in terms of launch costs.

Why Were CubeSats Created?

The CubeSat initiative entailed creating CubeSats in the late 1990s by scholars at the Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University. This was aimed at providing students with low-cost hands-on satellite development.

With time what started as an educational instrument turned out to be a serious commercial and scientific platform.

Today, CubeSats are used for:

• Earth observation
• Climate monitoring
• Communications experiments
• Technology testing
• Space research
• Military reconnaissance

They are small, yet their applications are growing at a very high rate.

How Do CubeSats Work?

CubeSats operate similarly to conventional satellites, simply in a highly miniaturized form in a modular format due to their small size.

In its simplest concept, a CubeSat consists of 1 standardised 10 cm cube unit called 1U. The units may be stacked into bigger units like 3U, 6U, or 12U systems enabling mission designers to increase capability at minimal costs.

CubeSats normally contain:

Power systems: Solar panels can be deployed, or be mounted on the body, creating electricity, which is stored in small onboard batteries.

Onboard computer (OBC): The control system of the satellite, which deals with the operation and navigation of the satellite and the reservation of data.

Communication systems: Radio transmitters and antennas are used to relay information to ground stations.

Payload: This is the mission-specific mission cargo - a camera, Earth-observation sensor, climate-monitoring sensor, or experimental technology.

Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS): Magnetorquers, gyroscopes or small reaction wheels are used to ensure the satellite is facing the right direction in space.

CubeSats normally have a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (usually 400 to 700 kilometres above Earth) due to their small size and power. Launch costs are reduced at these altitudes, communication delay is small and atmospheric drag ultimately de-orbits the satellite, minimizing the long-term risk of space debris.

CubeSats are particularly useful in short missions, technology demonstrations, and systems in constellation. Operators have the ability of deploying several CubeSats to work in tandem, rather than having to make use of a single large spacecraft, which enhances resilience and coverage.

Why Are They So Popular?

Lower Cost

Traditional satellites can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. CubeSats can be built for a fraction of that amount.

Faster Development

Large satellites may take 5–10 years to develop. CubeSats can be designed and launched in under two years.

Easier Access to Launch

Because CubeSats are small, they can be launched as secondary payloads. Launch providers often sell unused rocket capacity to CubeSat operators.

Ideal for Constellations

Instead of building one large satellite, companies can deploy dozens or hundreds of small satellites working together.

CubeSats vs Traditional Satellites

The Next Phase of Small Satellite Growth

The technology of CubeSat is developing fast. What started out as a learning platform has grown to be a serious business and scientific resource. Today with new advances in miniaturized propulsion a few CubeSats can manoeuvre in orbit, increase mission life and even fly in formation. Smarter onboard processors can perform real time data analysis in space and less raw data is transmitted back to earth.

CubeSats can no longer be satisfied with Low Earth Orbit experiments. Other agencies like NASA have used CubeSats to make missions to the interplanets, such as lunar and Mars demonstrations.

With the falling prices of the launch, which are fuelled by reusable rockets and specialized small launch vehicles, the deployment cycles are accelerating. Companies involved in spacecrafts are moving towards assembly-line production as opposed to customizations.

CubeSats can hardly go to replace the large geostationary satellites or deep space flagship missions. However, they are converting traffic patterns, reducing turnaround times in the innovation process, and decreasing barriers to entry in Low Earth Orbit.

CubeSats in a number of respects represent the startup revolution of space: they are faster, cheaper, and more available than ever before.