{ "id": "nasa-cubesat-101", "title": "CubeSat 101", "maker": "NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative", "maker_type": "Space agency", "kind": "structure", "category": "reports", "page": "https://spacemushroom.com/space-products/nasa-cubesat-101/", "website": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "summary": "NASA guide for first-time CubeSat developers. Its sample orbital debris (ODAR) text and component template name example materials. These are illustrative examples, not a specific flown spacecraft.", "application": "NASA's guide for first-time CubeSat developers. It shows what a first mission has to get right, from size and mass limits to deployer rules, anodized rails and battery safety. It is a teaching document with example materials, not a specific spacecraft.", "story": { "headline": "This NASA guide sets out the rules a first-time CubeSat builder has to meet before launch.", "intro": [ "CubeSat 101 comes from NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative and is written for people building their first CubeSat. A CubeSat is a small satellite made in standard units, and the basic unit, 1U, is roughly a 10 cm cube. The guide covers size and mass limits, the dispenser that releases the satellite, battery safety and orbital debris paperwork.", "The guide describes no real spacecraft. Its materials show typical practice, not the make-up of one mission. Its sample CubeSat has a 6061-T6 aluminium structure, a ceramic patch antenna and lithium-ion batteries. A blank NASA form adds a few more materials, each marked 'e.g.'." ], "built": [ { "title": "Size, mass and dispensers", "text": "A basic CubeSat, called 1U, weighs roughly 1 to 1.33 kg. Larger versions come as 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U and 12U, and a 3U measures 10 cm by 10 cm by 34 cm. The standard dispenser is the Cal Poly P-POD, which carries units from 1U to 3U.", "parts": [ "Rails (deployer interface rails)" ] }, { "title": "A sample CubeSat", "text": "The guide includes a sample orbital debris report, an ODAR, written for an example CubeSat. Its structure is aluminium, and its high-speed radio has a ceramic patch antenna. The electronics, circuit boards and solar cells are standard commercial off-the-shelf parts. The report adds that it has no pressure vessels, hazardous or exotic materials.", "parts": [ "CubeSat structure", "High-speed radio antenna", "Electronics, PCBs and solar cells" ] }, { "title": "The components template", "text": "NASA's blank components template for the debris report has a row for each part of the satellite. Four rows carry example materials: aluminium 6061 for the structure, steel 410 for the antennae, fibreglass for the solar panels and copper alloy for the cabling. The mass and size columns are blank.", "parts": [ "CubeSat structure (template row 2, body type Box)", "Antennae (template row 3)", "Solar panels (template row 4)", "Cabling, etc. (template row 14)" ] }, { "title": "Rules to check before launch", "text": "The checklist asks if the rails are anodised, a treatment that grows a thin oxide layer. It also calls for batteries with a UL safety listing and, for a 1U, a mass under 1.33 kg. To let a satellite burn up on re-entry, the guide prefers aluminium and steel to tantalum, titanium or tungsten.", "parts": [ "Rails (deployer interface rails)", "Electrical power storage" ] } ], "materials": [ { "name": "Aluminium 6061-T6", "mid": "aluminium-6061", "where": "The structure of the sample CubeSat, and the suggested entry for the structure on NASA's form." }, { "name": "Anodised aluminium", "mid": "anodized-aluminium", "where": "The rails that meet the dispenser. The checklist asks whether they are anodised, though it does not name the metal." }, { "name": "Steel 410", "mid": "stainless-410", "where": "A suggested entry for the antennae on NASA's form." }, { "name": "Fibreglass", "mid": "e-glass", "where": "A suggested entry for the solar panels on NASA's form." }, { "name": "Copper alloy", "mid": "copper", "where": "A suggested entry for the cabling on NASA's form." }, { "name": "Lithium-ion batteries", "mid": "lithium-ion-cell", "where": "Power storage in the sample CubeSat. Its report gives a UL listing number for the batteries." } ], "connections": "NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative wrote the guide. It names the Cal Poly P-POD as the standard dispenser. The debris paperwork rests on NASA-STD-8719.14A, the agency's process for limiting orbital debris, and on NPR 8715.6A, its procedural requirements for the same job. A third document, LSP-REQ-317.01, sets CubeSat requirements for NASA launches.", "unknown": "Because the guide describes no real satellite, it gives no breakdown of where the mass goes. Its forms for coatings, rubbery materials and adhesives are left blank, and no fasteners or thermal materials are named. It asks for anodised rails but does not say to which specification, or on which metal.", "facts": [ { "label": "1U size", "value": "10 cm x 10 cm x 11 cm" }, { "label": "3U size", "value": "10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm" }, { "label": "1U mass", "value": "approximately 1 to 1.33 kg" }, { "label": "Larger sizes", "value": "1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, 12U" }, { "label": "1U mass limit", "value": "< 1.33 kg" } ] }, "specifications": [ { "label": "1U size", "value": "10 cm x 10 cm x 11 cm", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "10 cm × 10 cm × 11 cm" }, { "label": "3U size", "value": "10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "10 cm × 10 cm × 34 cm" }, { "label": "1U mass", "value": "approximately 1 to 1.33 kg", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "CubeSat is a 10 cm cube with a mass of approximately 1 to 1.33 kg" }, { "label": "Larger sizes", "value": "1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, 12U", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "larger sizes have become popular, such as the 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, and 12U" }, { "label": "Mass checklist limit (1U)", "value": "< 1.33 kg", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "Mass (< 1.33 kg)" } ], "features": [ { "text": "Standard deployer is the Cal Poly P-POD; CubeSats are deployed from dispenser carrying 1U to 3U units", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer" }, { "text": "Sample ODAR narrative: no pressure vessels, hazardous, or exotic materials", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "There are no pressure vessels, hazardous, or exotic materials." }, { "text": "Rails must be anodized (checklist item)", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "Rails Anodized" }, { "text": "Use UL listed batteries", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "USE UL LISTED BATTERIES." }, { "text": "Thermal vacuum bakeout test is part of qualification (section 6.9.3)", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "quote": "Thermal Vacuum Bakeout Testing" } ], "parts": [ { "assembly": "Sample ODAR narrative (illustrative CubeSat)", "parts": [ { "part": "CubeSat structure", "material": "Aluminum 6061-T6", "form": "structure (form not stated)", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "The CubeSat structure is made of Aluminum 6061-T6.", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "aluminium-6061", "mid": "aluminium-6061" }, { "part": "High-speed radio antenna", "material": "ceramic patch antenna (ceramic type not stated)", "form": "antenna", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "The high-speed radio uses a ceramic patch antenna.", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": null, "mid": null }, { "part": "Electrical power storage", "material": "lithium-ion batteries", "form": "battery", "finish": null, "standard": "UL listing (battery)", "hardware_ref": "UL-listing number MH12345 (sample value in the example)", "quote": "The electrical power storage system consists of common lithium-ion batteries", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": null, "mid": "lithium-ion-cell" }, { "part": "Electronics, PCBs and solar cells", "material": "standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) materials (not itemised)", "form": "board / cell", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "It contains all standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) materials, electrical components, PCBs, and solar cells.", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": null, "mid": null } ] }, { "assembly": "NASA CubeSat Components ODAR Template (example column, rows as listed by NASA)", "parts": [ { "part": "CubeSat structure (template row 2, body type Box)", "material": "Aluminum 6061 (template example)", "form": "structure", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "e.g., Aluminum", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "aluminium-6061", "mid": "aluminium-6061" }, { "part": "Antennae (template row 3)", "material": "Steel 410 (template example)", "form": "antenna", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "e.g., Steel 410", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "stainless-410", "mid": "stainless-410" }, { "part": "Solar panels (template row 4)", "material": "Fiberglass (template example)", "form": "panel", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "e.g., Fiberglass", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "e-glass", "mid": "e-glass" }, { "part": "Cabling, etc. (template row 14)", "material": "Copper alloy (template example)", "form": "cable", "finish": null, "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "Cabling, etc.", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "copper", "mid": "copper" } ] }, { "assembly": "Rails and checklist items", "parts": [ { "part": "Rails (deployer interface rails)", "material": "anodized (base metal not stated)", "form": "rail", "finish": "Anodized", "standard": null, "hardware_ref": null, "quote": "Rails Anodized", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf", "profile": "anodized-aluminium", "mid": "anodized-aluminium" } ] } ], "materials": [ { "id": "aluminium-6061", "name": "Aluminum 6061 (template example)", "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/aluminium-6061/" }, { "id": "lithium-ion-cell", "name": "lithium-ion batteries", "material_page": null }, { "id": "stainless-410", "name": "Steel 410 (template example)", "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/stainless-410/" }, { "id": "e-glass", "name": "Fiberglass (template example)", "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/e-glass/" }, { "id": "copper", "name": "Copper alloy (template example)", "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/copper/" }, { "id": "anodized-aluminium", "name": "anodized (base metal not stated)", "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/anodized-aluminium/" } ], "standards": [ { "name": "NASA-STD-6016 Standard Materials and Processes Requirements for Spacecraft", "org": "NASA", "used_for": "listed in the Appendix reference list; the guide does not tie it to a named part" }, { "name": "NASA-STD-8719.14A Process for Limiting Orbital Debris", "org": "NASA", "used_for": "ODAR (the components template and sample ODAR)" }, { "name": "NPR 8715.6A NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris Generation", "org": "NASA", "used_for": "ODAR" }, { "name": "LSP-REQ-317.01 (Program Level Requirements)", "org": "NASA", "used_for": "CubeSat requirements for NASA launches" }, { "name": "CubeSat Design Specification (CDS)", "org": "other", "used_for": "envelope, and outgassing limits (TML/CVCM) that most ICDs reuse" }, { "name": "GSFC-STD-7000A (GEVS)", "org": "NASA", "used_for": "environmental verification" }, { "name": "UL 1642 / UL 2054", "org": "other", "used_for": "lithium and other batteries" }, { "name": "MIL-STD-461F", "org": "MIL", "used_for": "EMI emission and susceptibility" }, { "name": "SMC-S-016", "org": "other", "used_for": "test requirements for launch, upper-stage and space vehicles" } ], "relations": [], "not_published": "No hardware part numbers, fasteners, finishes (other than 'anodized' on the rails checklist line) or per-part masses; the template's mass/size columns are blank. Examples are illustrative and not tied to a flown CubeSat. A Materials List form (Metals, Non-Metal, Surface Coatings, Elastomerics tables with TML/CVCM columns) is provided blank. Existing products.json lists a Mylar LightSail sail and a carbon-nanotube mirror quote; neither the word Mylar nor a Mylar quote was found in the PDF text extracted here, so Mylar was NOT carried into this BOM (needs re-check of products.json). The carbon-nanotube/epoxy mirror is a photo caption about a possible telescope mirror, not a CubeSat part, so it is not listed.", "depth": "partial", "photos": [ { "file": "products/context/nasa-cubesat-101-1.jpg", "alt": "Gold-coloured P-POD CubeSat dispenser on a table with circuit boards visible in its open bays", "long": "A Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD), the CubeSat dispenser the guide describes, on a table in the CubeSat lab at Cal Poly, with CubeSat circuit boards visible in its open bays.", "kind": "context", "context": "CubeSats in a P-POD dispenser", "credit": "NASA (KSC-2013-2724)", "license": "Public domain (NASA)", "page_url": "https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-2013-2724" }, { "file": "products/nasa-cubesat-101.jpg", "alt": "Two small CubeSats drifting apart against Earth's bright limb, one with gold-coloured panels, one with silver panels", "long": "Two elongated CubeSats seen after release in orbit, one showing a gold-coloured board with a grid pattern and the other a silver face with a green circuit board and round lens.", "kind": "generic", "credit": "NASA (cropped from an ISS Expedition 51 photo)", "license": "Public domain", "page_url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_3U_CubeSats.jpg" }, { "file": "products/gallery/nasa-cubesat-101-1.jpg", "alt": "Three small CubeSats floating in space past a white robotic arm and a flat white panel, with Earth's limb above", "kind": "generic", "credit": "NASA (ISS Expedition 74 crew photo iss074e0301636)", "license": "Public domain (NASA media usage guidelines; NASA-created imagery is not copyrighted)", "page_url": "https://images.nasa.gov/details/iss074e0301636", "long": "Three cube-shaped satellites float at centre top. Robotic arm hardware lies lower left and a white folding panel lower right, against black space." }, { "file": "products/gallery/nasa-cubesat-101-2.jpg", "alt": "Two CubeSats with solar cells leaving a white deployer box lettered NANORACKS against black space", "kind": "generic", "credit": "NASA (ISS Expedition 38 crew photo iss038e044889)", "license": "Public domain (NASA media usage guidelines; NASA-created imagery is not copyrighted)", "page_url": "https://images.nasa.gov/details/iss038e044889", "long": "A pair of stacked satellites covered in dark solar cells extends from a white box on a robot arm, with a coil antenna at the tip and a copper-coloured array at upper left." } ], "context": { "size": [ "1U", "1.5U to 2U", "3U", "6U and larger" ] }, "licence": "Product data CC BY 4.0, cite Space Mushroom. Photos keep their own licences, given per photo.", "mcp": "https://spacemushroom.com/mcp" }