CubeSateiksi

CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. They are cube-shaped with dimensions of 10x10x10 centimeters, hence the name "CubeSat." The standard form factor is a 1U CubeSat, which weighs no more than 1.33 kilograms. CubeSats can be 1U, 2U, 3U, or 6U in size, with 6U being the largest and heaviest. They are launched as auxiliary payloads on larger launch vehicles, often hitching a ride with primary payloads.

CubeSats are popular among universities, research institutions, and commercial entities due to their low cost, rapid development time, and relatively simple design. They are used for a variety of missions, including Earth observation, communication, technology demonstration, and scientific research. CubeSats have been used to study space weather, monitor climate change, and even search for exoplanets.

The CubeSat standard was developed by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University in 1999 as a low-cost alternative to traditional satellites. Since then, thousands of CubeSats have been launched, making them one of the most successful and prolific types of spacecraft in history. Despite their small size, CubeSats have made significant contributions to space exploration and research.