From concept of operations (ConOps) to launch vehicle selection, rideshare opportunities, regulatory requirements (FCC, ITU), and post-deployment operations.
A CubeSat is a class of miniaturized satellite built to a standardized form factor. The base unit, called 1U (one unit), is a 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm cube with a maximum mass of approximately 2 kg. This standard was originally conceived in 1999 by Professors Jordi Puig-Suari (Cal Poly) and Bob Twiggs (Stanford) as a way for university students to gain hands-on experience designing, building, and operating real spacecraft.
Since then, the CubeSat standard has been adopted by hundreds of universities, research laboratories, government agencies, and commercial companies. Over 2,000 CubeSats have been launched to date, making them the most common class of spacecraft in orbit.
The CubeSat standard democratized space access by providing a common mechanical, electrical, and deployment interface that dramatically reduces the cost and complexity of getting a satellite to orbit.
The CubeSat concept emerged from a simple problem: traditional satellite development was too expensive, too slow, and too complex for university programs to participate meaningfully. Students would graduate before a satellite completed even its design phase.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1999 | CubeSat standard proposed by Puig-Suari & Twiggs |
| 2000 | First CubeSat Design Specification (CDS) published by Cal Poly |
| 2003 | First CubeSats launched (6 satellites, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia) |
| 2006 | GeneSat-1 becomes the first CubeSat with a biological payload |
| 2010 | RAX becomes the first NSF-funded CubeSat mission |
| 2013 | Planet Labs begins deploying Dove constellation (3U Earth imaging) |
| 2015 | NASA launches first CubeSats beyond Earth orbit (MarCO, later in 2018) |
| 2018 | MarCO A & B reach Mars — first interplanetary CubeSats |
| 2022 | Over 2,000 CubeSats launched cumulatively |
| 2024 | CubeSats integral to Artemis program and lunar missions |
The original 1U CubeSat form factor was inspired by the size of a Beanie Baby display case, which Bob Twiggs used as a visual reference when proposing the concept to students.
CubeSats scale in multiples of the base 1U unit. Each form factor provides different trade-offs between available volume, power generation area, and mission complexity.
| Form Factor | Dimensions | Mass Limit | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1U | 10 × 10 × 10 cm | 2.0 kg | Technology demos, IoT nodes, educational |
| 1.5U | 10 × 10 × 15 cm | 3.0 kg | Extended payloads, added power |
| 2U | 10 × 10 × 20 cm | 4.0 kg | Imaging, science instruments |
| 3U | 10 × 10 × 30 cm | 6.0 kg | Earth observation, communications, constellation nodes |
| 6U | 10 × 20 × 30 cm | 12.0 kg | Advanced payloads, high-res imaging, multi-instrument |
| 12U | 20 × 20 × 30 cm | 24.0 kg | Complex missions, high-performance systems |
For most student teams working on their first mission, a 1U or 3U form factor is recommended. 1U missions are ideal for single-purpose technology demonstrations, while 3U provides enough volume for a meaningful science payload alongside standard avionics and power systems.
The Blackwing Rook avionics board is designed for 1U, 1.5U, and 3U form factors with PC104-compatible mounting. This means you can use the same flight computer regardless of which size you choose for your mission.
Every CubeSat, regardless of size, is built around a set of core subsystems. Understanding these subsystems is fundamental to spacecraft engineering.
The C&DH subsystem acts as the central nervous system, coordinating between power management, communications scheduling, attitude control, and payload operations. A well-designed satellite has clear interfaces between subsystems, allowing parallel development by different team members.
CubeSats are not just educational tools. They have become essential instruments for scientific research, commercial applications, and national security.
A traditional satellite mission can cost $100M–$500M and take 5–10 years to develop. A CubeSat mission can be completed for $50K–$300K in 1–3 years, making space accessible to organizations that could never afford traditional approaches.
Because CubeSats are small and affordable, you can launch many of them. A constellation of 50+ satellites can provide near-continuous coverage of any point on Earth, something that would cost billions with traditional spacecraft. This is fundamentally changing how we think about space architectures.
As a Blackwing chapter member, you have access to the Rook avionics board, educational resources, and a network of student teams building real satellites. Your CubeSat project starts here.
Test your understanding of the material covered in this module.
Explore CubeSat project ideas your team can start building today.