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A CubeSat is a type of space research picosatellite with dimensions of 10×10×10 centimetres (i.e., a volume of exactly one litre), weighing no more than one kilogram, and typically using commercial off-the-shelf electronics components.

Developed through joint efforts, California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University introduced the CubeSat to the world of academia as a means of opportunity for Universities throughout the world to enter into the realm of space science and exploration.

Currently, a large number of universities and some companies and other organizations around the world are actively developing CubeSats [1]. With their relatively small size, CubeSats can be made and launched for an estimated US$65,000–80,000 each (2004 US dollars). This low price tag, as compared to most satellite launches, has made Cubesat a viable option for schools and universities across the world. Most CubeSats carry one or two scientific instruments as their primary mission payload. A few CubeSat projects have a limited propulsion system; for example, the CubeSat project of the University of Illinois uses an array of small ion thrusters.

Contents 1 Launch history 1.1 2003 1.2 2005 1.3 2006 1.4 Future Launches 2 Current running projects 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

On 30 June 2003, five university CubeSats and one commercial CubeSat were launched on a Rockot rocket from Russia’s Plesetsk launch site. The launch was executed by Eurockot Launch Services GmbH of Bremen, Germany. The CubeSats on board were:

• Aalborg University's AAU CubeSat
• Quakefinder's Quakesat
• Technical University of Denmark's DTUsat
• Tokyo Institute of Technology's CUTE-I
• University of Tokyo's XI-IV
• University of Toronto's CanX-1

On 27 October 2005, a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle launched from Plesetsk carried three CubeSats into orbit on the SSETI Express mission. The CubeSats on board were:

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology's NCUBE2
• University of Tokyo's XI-V
• University of Würzburg's UWE-1

On 21 February, a M-V launch vehicle launched from Uchinoura, Japan carried a single CubeSat into orbit, namely:

• Tokyo Institute of Technology's CUTE-1.7

On July 26, 14 Cubesats from 11 universities, as well as a private company, were to be launched aboard a DNEPR Rocket, which failed and was destroyed during launch. California Polytechnic State University handled the details. This launch was postponed numerous times due to the primary payload, EgyptSat 1, not being ready. Due to ITAR concerns, the cubesats were moved to a different launch opportunity, with the primary payload from Belka. The launch was lost after the first stage engine shut down prematurely.^[1][2]. It is currently believed that all satellite parts were destroyed. The launch carried:

• ION by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, U.S.
• KUTESAT-1 by University of Kansas, U.S.
• NCUBE-1 by Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
• Rincon 1 by University of Arizona, U.S.
• SACRED by University of Arizona, U.S.
• MEROPE by Montana State University, U.S.

(the list is not complete)

• Seven Cubesats will be launched as a secondary payload on a DNEPR rocket on March 27th, 2007. This launch has been planned for a long time now, to be the second launch by Cal Poly.
• Colombian University Sergio Arboleda has developed its first CubeSat. It is expected to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at Kazakhstan and it will use a telemetric payload that will keep it in communication with the University. It is expected to have a 50 days lifespan.

A number of CubeSat projects are running in different universities currently. Some of them are:

• PolySat by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, U.S.
• TJ^3Sat by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria VA: Its completion will mark the first CubeSat to be successfully launched by highschool students into space.
• BillikenSat-II by Parks College, Saint Louis University, U.S.
• Delfi-C3 by Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands : It is a 3-unit CubeSat 10x10x30 centimeters
• AAUSAT-II by Aalborg University, Denmark
• AubieSat-1 by Auburn University, U.S.
• Compass One by Fachhochschule Aachen, Germany
• TIsat-1 by the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Switzerland
• DTUsat-2 by Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
• CAPE-1 by University of Louisiana at Lafayette, U.S.
• CASsat jointly by University of Sydney and University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
• Hermes by University of Colorado at Boulder, U.S.
• ION1 and ION2 by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, U.S.
• SwissCube by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
• MEROPE by Montana State University, Space Science and Engineering Laboratory
• KySat by a Consortium of Five Kentucky Universities, US
• Libertad 1 by Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Colombia

AMSAT

1. Cubesat Community Website. Retrieved on 2006-03-18.

• CubeSat Program official website Contains information about the upcoming launch.
• Edusat Project
• Extensive list of Cubesat missions
• Delfi-C3: Delft University of Technology CubeSat project
• Aalborg University second CubeSat project
• Amsat's list of CubeSats Generally kept well up to date
• Ralph Wallio's CubeSat Information Page Up to date with current Keplerian elements and frequency information.