Gran Systems' 1U structure is an anodised aluminium frame, 118 grams on average, for building a one-unit CubeSat.
gran-systems-1u-structure This is the smallest frame in Gran Systems' range of CubeSat structures, which runs from 1U up to 16U. It measures 100 by 100 by 113.5 millimetres and weighs 118 grams on average. A 1U education kit, with a transparent side panel that shows the electronics, sits beside it in the range.
The frame is 6061-T6 aluminium with an anodised surface, like Gran's larger aluminium frames. It holds circuit boards in the PC104 layout and slides into a launch dispenser on rails along all four sides. Gran gives a temperature range of -50 to +120 °C.
A 1U CubeSat primary structure that gives a small satellite its frame. At 118 g it holds standard PC104 boards, which saves a team from machining and anodizing a chassis themselves.
Four mounting holes are laid out in the PC104 pattern, a standard for circuit boards. The largest board that fits is 95.9 by 95.9 millimetres. Gran cites the LibreCube specification, which refers to PC104, for the hole positions.
Rails run along all four sides of the frame. They are the surfaces that slide in a launch dispenser. Gran says its structures adhere to the Cal Poly CubeSat standard.
Every size from 1.5U to 16U is also 6061-T6 aluminium with an anodised surface. From 3U upwards, Gran can build the frame in carbon fibre instead, for lower weight, higher strength and lower thermal expansion. The education kit has a transparent side panel.
The 1U structure, every larger size and the MyPOD test pods, all anodised.
An option for structures of 3U and larger, for lower weight, higher strength and lower thermal expansion. The resin is not named.
Gran also sells MyPOD test pods, aluminium fixtures that hold a CubeSat for fit checks and for vibration, shock and thermal-vacuum tests. It says it designs similar dispensers for launching CubeSats, though no model name is published. Gran says it turned its structures and pods into products after NUTSAT. NUTSAT was a 2U CubeSat from National Formosa University, deployed from the International Space Station on 29 December 2022. Gran doesn't say NUTSAT flew this 1U frame.
Companion test pods for Gran CubeSat configurations (fit-check, vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, transport)
Gran says it designs deployers similar to MyPOD for launching CubeSats; no model name is published
NUTSAT, the mission Gran ties its productisation to, was deployed from the ISS
Gran says its test pods and structures were productised after a full CubeSat mission (NUTSAT); the slides do not say NUTSAT flew this 1U structure
Interface standard named on the maker's catalogue page
Hole pattern used for the PC104 mounting holes
NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative
Reference for the CubeSat Design Specification and dispensers; the guide does not name this product
Blackwing Space
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: 1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry); 1.5U CubeSat structure and more. There: Sparrow 1U Chassis; Sparrow 1U XL Chassis and more.
Carbon fibre. Here: Carbon fibre structure option (3U and larger). There: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish.
Blackwing Space
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: 1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry); 1.5U CubeSat structure and more. There: Kestrel 3U XL Chassis; Structure (all platforms table).
Carbon fibre. Here: Carbon fibre structure option (3U and larger). There: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish.
Blackwing Space
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: 1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry); 1.5U CubeSat structure and more. There: Osprey 6U XL Chassis; Structure (all platforms table).
Carbon fibre. Here: Carbon fibre structure option (3U and larger). There: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish.
NASA Ames
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: 1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry); 1.5U CubeSat structure and more. There: EnduroSat 3U structure; ISISPACE 3U structure and more.
Carbon fibre. Here: Carbon fibre structure option (3U and larger). There: TechEdSat secondary structural pieces.
Gran's page doesn't say which type of anodising is used, how tight the tolerances are, what loads the frame can take, which dispensers it fits, or what fasteners it uses. No drawing, CAD file or datasheet is offered. Gran names no customer satellite that flew this structure.
What is written above is built from these numbers and quotes. Each row links to the page it was taken from. Get all of it as JSON, or ask our MCP server.
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 100 x 100 x 113.5 mm |
| Average weight | 118 g |
| Max. PC105 PCB size | 95.9 x 95.9 mm |
| Mounting | 4 x PC104 mounting holes |
| Temperature | -50 C to +120 C |
| Material | Aluminum T6 6061 |
| Surface treatment | Anodized |
| Mounting hole reference | LibreCube specification referring to PC104 |
| Delivered hardware (maker claim) | over 100 CubeSat structures and 50 test pods; 46+ satellites or missions supported |
| Structure sizes offered | 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 6U, 8U, 12U and 16U, plus a 1U Edu kit |
| Test pod sizes | 3U (MyPOD1 and MyPOD2), 6U MyPOD2, 12U MyPOD2 |
| Test pod temperature range | -50 C to +100 C |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail minimum width | 8.5 mm, measured from the rail edge to the first protrusion |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail surface roughness | less than 1.6 micrometres (a 'should') |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail edge radius | at least 1 mm (a 'should') |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail end contact area | 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm minimum on the +/- Z face |
| CDS Rev 14.1: protrusion limit | 6.5 mm normal to the surface from the plane of the rail |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail contact with dispenser | at least 75% of the rail |
| CDS Rev 14.1: structure material | aluminium alloy; 7075, 6061, 6082, 5005 and/or 5052 typical |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail surface finish | hard anodized wherever it touches the dispenser rails |
| CDS Rev 14.1: maximum mass per size | 1U 2.00 kg, 1.5U 3.00 kg, 2U 4.00 kg, 3U 6.00 kg, 6U 12.00 kg, 12U 24.00 kg |
| CDS Rev 14.1: separation spring guideline | max force below 6.7 N (1.5 lbf), stroke above 2.5 mm |
| CDS Rev 14.1: deployment switch | at least one, actuated while the CubeSat is in the dispenser |
| CDS Rev 14.1: outgassing | TML at most 1.0 % and CVCM at most 0.1 % |
| CDS Rev 14.1: remove-before-flight pin | required; protrudes no more than 6.5 mm from the rail surface when fully inserted |
Each material named in the sources: where it is used here, which other products use it, and its key numbers when its material page exists.
Used in 13 parts1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry) · 1.5U CubeSat structure · 2U CubeSat structure · +10 more
Used in 1 partCarbon fibre structure option (3U and larger)
The page only gives one material and one surface treatment for the whole structure, with no individual parts listed. Components, suppliers and links were added from public sources. A material is left blank where no source states it.
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1U CubeSat structure (single part list entry)“Material Aluminum T6 6061 Surface treatment: anodized” | Aluminum T6 6061aluminium-6061 | anodized (type and class not stated) | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC104 mounting holes (x4)Hole pattern that takes PC104-size boards; pattern follows the LibreCube specification“4 x PC104 Mounting holes provided.” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Slide rails on all four sidesRails that ride in the dispenser; Gran says its structures adhere to the Cal Poly CubeSat standard“Our components are engineeres with slide rails on all four sides, adhering to CALPOLY CubeSat Standards.” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“1.5U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 2U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“2U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 3U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“3U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 4U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“4U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 6U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“6U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 8U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“8U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 12U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“12U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 16U CubeSat structurePrimary structure in the Gran Systems mass-production family“16U CubeSat Structure Specifications” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Carbon fibre structure option (3U and larger)Alternative to aluminium for lower weight, higher strength and lower thermal expansion“Cubesats sized 3U and larger can be made from carbon fiber” | Carbon fibre (matrix not stated)carbon-fibre | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 1U Educational CubeSat kit structure (transparent side panel)Teaching kit with a transparent side panel that shows the electronics; listed as '1U Edu' beside the structures“One of the standout features of this kit is its transparent side panel” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3U MyPOD1 test pod / fixtureFit-check, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, storage and transport fixture for CubeSats built in the Gran structures“External Size (L x W x H) 470 x 144 x 148.1 mm” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 3U MyPOD2 test pod / fixtureFit-check, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, storage and transport fixture for CubeSats built in the Gran structures“External Size (L x W x H) 137 x 137 x 415 mm” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 6U MyPOD2 test pod / fixtureFit-check, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, storage and transport fixture for CubeSats built in the Gran structures“External Size (L x W x H) 268 x 141 x 442.1 mm” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| 12U MyPOD2 test pod / fixtureFit-check, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, storage and transport fixture for CubeSats built in the Gran structures“268 x 266 x 442.1 mm” | Aluminium 6061-T6, anodizedaluminium-6061 | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Vibration table adapter platesPlates that mount the MyPOD pods on vibration and shock tables“Vibration Table Adapter Plates for all of the above are also available.” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Flight deployers designed by Gran SystemsDeployers for launching CubeSats on orbit, similar to the MyPOD“Separately, Gran Systems designs similar deployers for launching cubesats on orbits.” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Systems CubeSat bus (1U to 16U)Scalable bus with on-board computer, power system, solar panels and battery; first flown in 2022“First flown in 2022” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
| R2D3 CubeSat bus with deorbit drag deviceReentry-ready bus option for the FCC five-year deorbit rule“Reentry-Ready CubeSat with Deorbit Drag Device” | Not said | — | Supplier: Gran Systems |
Gives no parts list, no fastener material or count, no anodize specification (type/class/thickness), no colour, no drawing or CAD link, and no part number. The 4 x PC104 mounting holes are mentioned but fastener hardware is not. More detail: Gran Systems publishes only a spec table per size: no parts list, fastener count or material, no rail dimensions or tolerances, no anodize type or class, no part numbers, no drawings or CAD, and no named customer satellite. The 1.5U/2U/3U weights are not monotonic (142 g, 415 g, 580 g) and are kept as printed. The 'Deployable Dimensions' rows (104 mm) are not explained on the pages. The carbon fibre option names no fibre or resin. NUTSAT (2U) is the only mission Gran links to its structure line, and only as productisation heritage, not as a flown 1U structure. Compatible dispensers (P-POD, NRCSD, ISIPOD, EXOpod) are not named for the structures; the MyPOD pods are Gran's own. More detail: Gran Systems publishes only a spec table per size: no parts list, fastener count or material, no rail dimensions or tolerances, no anodize type or class, no part numbers, no drawings or CAD, and no named customer satellite. The 1.5U/2U/3U weights are not monotonic (142 g, 415 g, 580 g) and are kept as printed. The 'Deployable Dimensions' rows (104 mm) are not explained on the pages. The carbon fibre option names no fibre or resin. NUTSAT (2U) is the only mission Gran links to its structure line, and only as productisation heritage, not as a flown 1U structure. Compatible dispensers (P-POD, NRCSD, ISIPOD, EXOpod) are not named for the structures; the MyPOD pods are Gran's own.
RAX-1, built on the kit 
Ex-Alta 2 flight hardware 
Collected from public pages and documents, checked 4 Nov 2026.
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