Questions tagged [cubesat]
Type of satellite in the shape of a cube 10 cm on each side. Popular with academics and amateurs with a focus on off-the-shelf components.
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What are the most common practical design specifications for antenna in space?
I'm writing my thesis on antennas for small satellite applications (cubesats).
Apart from the electrical specifications related to the particular application there are also several other "...
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Pointing accuracy and relevant manoeuvers CUBESAT
How do you calculate or determine the pointng accuracy of your CUBESAT in sunlit-part and eclipse-part modes?
Also how do you determine the maximum roll/pitch/yaw angles and slew rate required in ...
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1answer
340 views
What is the largest proper cubesat?
The sizes of Cubesats are measured in "U" units of volume. Each U is nominally a cube of something like 10 to 12 cm on a side, depending on the specific deploying mechanism it's approved for....
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Is it possible to send a CubeSat to Saturn/Enceladus?
I was wondering if it is technologically possible to send a CubeSat/Nanosatellites or constellation of nanosatellites to explore the water vapor jets in the southern region of Enceladus in the Saturn ...
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Have there been any square 4U (2x2) cubesats?
How much did each MarCO 6U cubesat weigh? suggests that the density of a MarCO 6U cubesat might be as low as 0.75 g/cm^3 whereas I think they are usually about twice that.
That led me to speculate ...
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Essential sensors for cubesat ADCS
We are building a 3U satellite to orbit Earth and measure space debris.
Between gyroscope, GPS, IMU, magnetometer, Sun sensors and star tracker, which would be essential sensors for the ADCS?
Or ...
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1answer
75 views
How do phonesats stay cool?
To the question Can a smart phone function in space? this answer says
Multiple android based phone satellites have been launched into space. (At least six according to Wikipedia). I haven't looked ...
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Do deployments of multiple cubesats obey proposed guidelines such as 20 seconds or more between deployments at 5 m/s or faster?
This answer to What can be done in future mass-cubesat deploys to make them “less irksome” to orbital space debris experts? links to Space Traffic Safety: A New Self-Governance Approach for the ...
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Do a significant proportion of cubesats (or any at all) have articulated solar panels/sails which can be pointed at the Sun?
It appears that for early cubesats the solar panels were simply fixed flat to the sides of the spacecraft, and even deployable panels were not part of early cubesat designs.
Have a significant number ...
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Why would photon pressure be needed to keep ParkinsonSAT Spinning?
This answer to Can a satellite work like a radiometer? says (in part):
...the US Naval Academy cubesat ParkinsonSAT was designed with four faces asymmetrical, with solar panels offset to one side ...
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Ejection Velocity of a CubeSat on Mars? [closed]
I am trying to decide whether or not I would need to add propulsion systems onto my 3U cubesat if it is being deployed in the Mars atmosphere. From what I've found so far, cubesats are typically ...
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1answer
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Challenges in using linux based COTS for Cubesat mission payloads
Most of the questions related to using linux is cubesat/space missions is for the flight computer. I understand that a RTOS is preferred over a full blown linux for a flight computer. However I am ...
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1answer
125 views
Orbit transfer trajectory options to the moon
I am working on a project for a lunar flyby using a CubeSat. I was wondering what kind of trajectory transfer options are present and which one would be best for a CubeSat? I'm aiming for a transfer ...
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0answers
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Cubesat, smallsat, or probe 'auteurs' - do any exist?
Most cubesats, other smallsats, and small probes are designed, funded, and launched by small teams (often associated with education/research institutions) at the smallest.
By "auteur", I mean a ...
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2answers
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X-Band range and data
In summary I am working on a network consisting of 8 cubesat 1U that will be at an orbit altitude of 850Km. The question is that I am working on communications, the idea is that this network of ...
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1answer
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Could the Electron launch a cubesat to Mars
Could the Electron in combination with it's kickstage deliver any meaningful mass to Mars, ie; a 2kg cubesat or is it unable to reach the required velocities even with no payload. Rocketlab are ...
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1answer
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How will NASA's TROPICS cubesats be inserted into their three orbital planes and proper phasings?
Rocket to launch 8 cubesat to LEO at an equidistant distance reminded me that I'd never asked this question. NASA's TROPICS 3U cubesat constellation hasn't been launched yet, so there's still time to ...
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2answers
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Rocket to launch 8 cubesat to LEO at an equidistant distance
I am working on a project, which consists of the launch of 8 cubesat 1U to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and I started working on the launch part, the idea of the project is to be as cheap as possible, the ...
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1answer
91 views
How do I calculate what antenna I need for my cubesat?
If I want to make a communication satellite, like MarCO, what formulas do I need to calculate the perfect antenna? Is there a difference between the X-Band and the classic UHF? If the cubesat is ...
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1answer
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Calculations needed to full-design a rocket
Suppose I want to put a cubesat in Titan's orbit (saturn's moon). and I want to calculate what rocket power I need, how do I calculate it? Where do I begin? total mass of the probe or delta-v needed? ...
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1answer
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Would a small electron microscope in a cubesat work well in space at 400 km?
There is now an electron microscope in space!
Suppose that once I win a lottery I can build a small, modest SEM column and put it in a 6U cubesat that opens one side to allow the electron optics to ...
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1answer
111 views
RCS or Reaction Wheel for a 30kg cubesat
I am working on the design of a cubesat, it weighs approximately 30 kg and I am doing the Navigation and Guide Control system.
I was wondering if I had some blueprint for some RCS or Reaction Wheels ...
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1answer
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What calculations should I do to go from LEO to the moon with an ionic motor?
my question is, what calculations should I do to be able to go from LEO to the lunar orbit?
If this were done, two of these thrusters would be used
https://www.cubesatshop.com/product/ifm-nano-...
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1answer
86 views
Building cubesat prototype using Rasberry Pi
We are doing a project in my university which is based on simple communication or GPS cubesat satellite (with only specific task not of so many functionalities), and we will be making a protoype for ...
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Cubesat/Nanosat dispensers/deployers costs
I’ m looking for informations about dispensers/deployers equipement costs and associated launch costs, espacially for 12U configurations and over.
I’ve got price information on Tyvak 12U Deployer in a ...
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1answer
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How many spacecraft deployed from the ISS have escaped Earth orbit? Are there plans for any in the near future?
After reading Why did the Ulysses probe reach Jupiter much faster than Galileo? and answers to How many Space Shuttle payloads ended up beyond Earth orbit? and also What's the largest rocket that was ...
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1answer
152 views
Have any satellites had lights visible from Earth besides FITSat-1?
Clearly not a duplicate! of Why does the International Space Station have a downward facing light?
This answer to How does the Starlink satellite shine? begins with
Starlink (and other satellites) ...
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0answers
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Major topic headings for lunar CubeSat mission design planning?
I am working on a project to design a complete mission for a lunar CubeSat.
Assuming that the launch segment is already covered and I need to focus on the spacecraft design.
I wanted to know what ...
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1answer
161 views
What's up with the lack of subminiature chemical rockets?
Not long ago, I was researching the scaling of converging-diverging de Laval nozzles to subminiature (1.5 mm throat diameter) dimensions for a non-rocket application, and later on studied the ...
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4answers
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Why do we need dedicated launch vehicles for small satellites?
The Wikipedia webpage on Small-lift launch vehicle gives a huge list of dedicated launch vehicles with a maximum payload capacity of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) for small satellites, which are either retired,...
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How do these cubesats' whip antennas work?
This answer has identified the three 1U cubesats shown in the question, and links to Engineers Rule's Maya-1: The Philippines’ First CubeSat along with the video Animation of MAYA-1, The Philippines' ...
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1answer
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What cubesats are these, what flags are on them, and why? What's the background story?
This tweet includes the image below and says:
Cubesats deploying from ISS.
Question: What cubesats are these, what flags are on them, and why? What's the background story?
Cropped, magnified and ...
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SpaceX rideshare missions: how many smallsats fit?
SpaceX has just announced their new smallsat rideshare program. Is it known how many satellites can be launched at once? Any estimates?
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1answer
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If there “won't be” rockets to launch individual cubesats, then why did JAXA build exactly that? (SS-520-xx)
The question Why isn't there a rocket to launch a single cubesat? has several good answers that explain why there isn't and/or will not likely be one, based mostly on commercial viability, consistent ...
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1answer
336 views
Total delta-v expected from Lightsail-2's solar sail before end of mission, and why end it so soon?
While Bill Nye has recently gotten quite upset at us for some things (strong language for Bill Nye warning), in the video below he expresses heartfelt thanks to all members of the Planetary Society ...
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How can I calculate if a satellite is currently in sunlight or eclipse using pyEphem or Skyfield (preferred)?
I'd like to add this to some existing python scripts to model cubesat battery life and payload temperature but the math escapes me.
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1answer
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Impact of having two antennas on link budget calculations
I'm working on link budget of a cubesat mission that needs to have two dipole antennas that are perpendicular to each other. I want to know if having two antennas affect the link budget? losses, and ...
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1answer
123 views
How strict are dispenser integrators when a CubeSat requirement is not met?
I'm working on designing a CubeSat component which does not comply with all of the requirements in the latest CubeSat Design Specification (CDS), namely:
"The ends of the rails on the +/- Z face ...
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2answers
109 views
IRIS Transceiver for LEO Missions?
My professor really wants to know if the IRIS transceiver, which flew on MarCo, will be used in LEO. In fact so much that he doesn't accept "no" for an answer. I have searched for an example but found ...
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1answer
666 views
Are there cubesats in GEO?
This answer to the question How often do reaction wheels require desaturation, normally? says:
One practical example I know of is for a 6U in GEO that is always sun pointed, there's a thruster ...
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5answers
632 views
Why isn't there a rocket to launch a single cubesat?
I find the business model for RocketLab interesting. It is said that they fill a niche in the market by using smaller rockets. And it is true, in comparison to e.g. Falcon 9's payload of 9,500 kg, ...
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1answer
112 views
Maintenance manouvers for a Dawn-Dusk SSO?
I'm in charge of the ADCS for a class project, which consists on a 25U-cubesat, in a 650-km dawn-dusk Sun-synchronous orbit or SSO.
What are the orbit correction/maintenance manouvers a spacecraft ...
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1answer
144 views
How do you find the temperature of an orbiting aluminum sheet 10x10 cm
I'm trying to find the temperature of a CubeSat in orbit at 140km. I'm trying to use the Stefan-Boltzmann law but don't know how to incorporate the energy from sunlight. I'm using this as a check for ...
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2answers
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Temperature of a satellite orbiting in low Earth orbit
I am working on a project for science fair that involves a deployable component that will not be heated on a CubeSat. I am trying to find data for the skin temperature of a satellite (or the ISS) over ...
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Operator access to a cube satellite or any educational satellite
I would like to have free or low-cost access to an existing CubeSat (educational satellite) for educational purposes. I wish to familiarise myself with the end to end command & control activities, ...
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Was any data actually transmitted between OSCD and ISARA in the recent CubeSat lasercom test?
Two CubeSats (the OCSD and ISARA CubeSats) recently demonstrated technology for on-orbit sat-sat laser communications. All the information I have been able to find doesn't indicate if the test ...
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What is the estimate price for small ion thrusters on cubesats?
I can't find much about price for ion thruster and I read from somewhere that most ion thruster are off the rack product. I just need the rough estimate price for a small ion thruster and the closest ...
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Suggestions required on radiation tolerance solutions
I wanted to know what methods of increasing radiance tolerance for the microcontroller and memory devices for a Cubesat exist. We have read about methods like having dual CPUs but are there any ...
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1answer
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What are ways to store hydrogen for electric propulsion without a heavy pressure vessel?
This comment points out that any advantages of using low-mass ionized atomic hydrogen (i.e. protons) for electric propulsion if you had a fixed acceleration voltage and plenty of electrical power ...
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Could a cubesat propel itself to Mars?
I wrote the answer below to the question Could a cubesat be propelled to the moon? before realizing that it said Moon and I'd written it for Mars, so I've cloned that question and moved the answer ...
