Satellites come in all sizes and shapes. A small satellite or SmallSat is commonly considered to be a satellite that weighs less than 500 kg.
As a basic application of various satellite sizes by mass, the common distinction:
| Lower Limit | Upper Limit(kg) | Classification | Examples |
| 1000 | Large satellites | Hubble Space Telescope / Inmarsat-4A F4 | |
| 500 | 1000 | Medium satellites | O3b |
| 0 | 500 | Small satellites | SpaceX StarLink |
CubeSats are smaller yet.
CubeSats need to conform to specific criteria including shape, size, and mass. At this point, most people have become aware or are at least heard of CubeSats. (Cube Satellites). CubeSats (cube satellite, cube satellite) are a type of nanosatellites defined by the CubeSat Design Specification (CSD) or otherwise commonly known by the unofficial term “CubeSat standard”. Cubesats are small, and start off at the 1U size of 10xm x 10 cm x 11.35 cm ( yes not exactly a cube, but very close) Here are some standard CubeSat dimensions:
1U CubeSat is 10 cm × 10 cm × 11.35 cm.
2U CubeSat is 10 cm × 10 cm × 22.70 cm.
6U CubeSat is 20 cm × 10 cm × 34.05 cm.
12U CubeSat is 20 cm × 20 cm × 34.05 cm.
The CubeSat Project began as a collaborative effort of several professors at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and Stanford University’s Space Systems Development Laboratory (SSDL). Prof. Jordi PuigSuari(Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo(SSDL), and Prof. Bob Twiggs(SSDL) started the CubeSat Project in 1999 and since the inception, the CubeSat Project gained wide acceptance. The development of CubeSats has advanced into a subindustry of space satellite development and launch. Numerous government, industry and academic organizations collaborate increased capabilities. The program has expanded to be an international collaboration of over 100 universities, high schools, and private firms developing CubeSats containing scientific, private, and government payloads.
CubeSats now provide a cost-effective platform for science investigations, new technology demonstrations and advanced mission concepts using constellations, swarms disaggregated systems. To ensure safety and overall optimization of CubeSats, the CubeSat project publishes CubeSat specifications that are developed and published ranging from 1.33kg 10 cm cube to a 6U CubeSat with a mass of up to 12 kg.
Accordingly, the development time and effort for a CubeSat is less than that of a traditional larger satellite. However, the process still requires a number of well thought out steps to be successful.
Approximate timeline for developing CubeSats:
1. Concept Development (1–6 months)
2. Securing Funding (1–12 months)
3. Merit and Feasibility Reviews (1–2 months)
4. CubeSat Design (1–6 months)
5. Development and Submittal of Proposal in Response to CSLI(CubeSat Launch Initiative) Call (3–4 months)
Cubesat vs PocketQube
PocketQubes are smaller yet. The PocketQube satellite specification is made up of 5cm cubes, which can be stacked to make larger variants. PocketQubes are similar to CubeSats except smaller and with less mass to orbit.
PocketQubes Each cube size is referred to as “p”. For example 1p, 2p, 3p etc. One unit (1P) Consists of roughly 50x50x50 mm. In comparison, PocketQubes are 5 cm cubes versus 10 cm for CubeSats.
PocketQubes are a relatively new thing, with the first 4 PocketQubes were launched into space in 2013.
Alba Orbital focuses on building and launching advanced Picosatellites – a niche market that many other companies do not focus on. With the establishment of a PockeetQube standard, Alba Orbital was able to develop a standard PocketQube deployer. Alba Orbital has been able to attract a variety of customers for their initial launches. Alba claims to have the lowest launch prices in the industry, starting from 25k euros. Indeed, at 25K Euro, they have managed to complete two launches already and are in the process of planning a 3rd. Space on cluster 3, which is planned for 2020, has limited space left according to Alba.
Impact on the industry
With satellites getting smaller, some of the companies developing and launching rockets decided it was a good idea to make the rockets smaller as well. Currently, in operation, Rocket Lab is one of those companies. Peter Beck founded the aerospace company founded in 2006 with the intent of delivering innovative, high-quality technologies to the space industry. Rocket Lab is considered to be one of the most mature of these New Space Companies. Both SpaceX and Rocket Lab have launched SmallSat payloads to orbit for a variety of customers.
Both are making progress compared to traditional space companies that played in this market.
A legacy launcher system that is slowly being displaced is the Pegasus air-launched rocket. Originally developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, the rocket is capable of carrying small payloads of up to 443 kilograms (977 lb) into Low Earth Orbit.
Since Pegasus first flew in 1990, the rocket has launched over 40 times and has an estimated launch cost of $40. Pegasus may be on the way out since SpaceX won a major contract in 2019. The entire cost of a Falcon 9 rocket capable of launching much more is between 50-60 million dollars. The increased competition in the SmallSat Launch industry is not limited to SpaceX. Rocket Lab is also gaining customers.
Rocket Lab carved out a niche in the launch industry. The focus is to cater to the growing requirement within the international market for fast, low-cost methods of delivering payloads to orbit. Since Peter Beck Founded the company, the company has successfully developed sufficient technology to build and launch small rockets like the Electron. Rocket Lab has also demonstrated the ability to launch payloads into orbit for NASA. NASA awarded Rocket Lab a level 1 certification for Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle. The certification cemented by the successful launch of the NASA ELaNa-19 mission that deployed 13 NASA CubeSats delivered to orbit by Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle in December 2018.
The standardization of CubeSats also allows for the standardization of the dispenser systems. The dispenser provides attachment to a launch vehicle or spacecraft and protects the CubeSat during launch. The dispenser releases the CubeSat into space.
For example, Rocket Lab developed the Maxwell series of rail-based CubeSat dispensers. Rocket Lab offers the Maxwell dispensers in a variety of CubeSat form factors, including 1U, 3U, 6U, 12U and 16U. A standard Maxwell dispenser is extremely lightweight. For a 3U satellite, the dispenser weighs less than 1 kg. Rocket Lab also has Launched payloads for Alba Orbital for the deployment of multiple PocketQubes and is preparing to launch again for Alba Orbital in 2020.
The trend in the industry will continue to smaller satellites as technology evolves. Companies like Alba Orbital will continue to work on miniaturizing larger satellites. Launching multiple satellites concurrently further drives the costs down. Newer reusable rockets will still further drive costs down. Companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab will continue to innovate to reduce costs for launch. WestEastSpace.com will continue to go deeper into these specific companies and their product offering in future articles.
About The Author
Bill D’Zio
Co-Founder at WestEastSpace.com
Bill founded WestEastSpace.com after returning to China in 2019 to be supportive of his wife’s career. Moving to China meant leaving the US rocket/launch industry behind, as the USA and China don’t see eye to eye on cooperation in space. Bill has an engineering degree and is an experienced leader of international cross-functional teams with experience in evaluating, optimizing and awarding sub-contracts for complex systems. Bill has worked with ASME Components, Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) for use in launch vehicles, satellites, aerospace nuclear, and industrial applications.
Bill provides consulting services for engineering, supply chain, and project management.
