A '''CubeSat''' is a type of space research [[miniaturized satellite|picosatellite]] with dimensions of 10×0×0 [[centimetre]]s (i.e., a volume of exactly one [[litre]]), weighing no more than one [[kilogram]], and typically using [[commercial off-the-shelf]] [[electronics]] components. 

Currently, a large number of [[university|universities]] and some companies and other organizations around the world are actively developing CubeSats. With their relatively small size, CubeSats can be made and launched for an estimated [[United States dollar|US$]]65,000–80,000 a piece ([[2004]] dollars). Most CubeSats carry one or two [[scientific instrument]]s as its primary mission [[payload]]. A few CubeSat projects have a limited [[spacecraft propulsion|propulsion]] system; for example, the CubeSat project of the [[University of Illinois]] uses an array of small [[ion thruster]]s.


==Launch history==

===2003===
On [[30 June]] [[2003]], five university CubeSats and one commercial CubeSat were launched on a [[Rockot]] rocket from [[Russia]]?s [[Plesetsk Cosmodrome|Plesetsk]] launch site. The launch was executed by ''Eurockot Launch Services GmbH'' of [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], [[Germany]]. The CubeSats on board were:
* [[Aalborg University]]'s [[AAU CubeSat]]
* [[Quakefinder]]'s [[Quakesat]] — successfully sent data for 24 months
* [[Technical University of Denmark]]'s [[DTUsat]] — radio contact never established
* [[Tokyo Institue of Technology]]'s [[CUTE-I]]
* [[University of Tokyo]]'s [[XI-IV]]
* [[University of Toronto]]'s [[CanX-1]]

===2005===
On [[27 October]] [[2005]], a [[Cosmos-3M|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 [[NCUBE (satellite)|NCUBE2]]
* [[University of Tokyo]]'s [[XI-V]]
* [[University of Wurzburg]]'s [[UWE-1]] ([[callsign]]: <tt>[[DP0UWE]]</tt>)

===2006===
Another 14 CubeSats are planned to launch in early [[2006]], this time on a [[Dnipro launch vehicle|Dnepr]] launch vehicle.

==External links==
*[http://www.cubesat.org CubeSat Program official website]

[[Category:Satellites]]


{{spacecraft-stub}}

[[ja:CubeSat]]