Achieving science with CubeSats : thinking inside the box / Committee on Achieving Science Goals with CubeSats, Space Studies Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, the National Acaademies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Committee on Achieving Science Goals with CubeSats.

Space Studies Board.

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences.

National Acaademies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space sciences--Study and teaching--United States.

Space sciences.

Scientific satellites.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (131 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Place of Publication:

Washington, District of Columbia : The National Academies Press, 2016.

Summary:

"Space-based observations have transformed our understanding of Earth, its environment, the solar system and the universe at large. During past decades, driven by increasingly advanced science questions, space observatories have become more sophisticated and more complex, with costs often growing to billions of dollars. Although these kinds of ever-more-sophisticated missions will continue into the future, small satellites, ranging in mass between 500 kg to 0.1 kg, are gaining momentum as an additional means to address targeted science questions in a rapid, and possibly more affordable, manner. Within the category of small satellites, CubeSats have emerged as a space-platform defined in terms of (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm)- sized cubic units of approximately 1.3 kg each called "U's." Historically, CubeSats were developed as training projects to expose students to the challenges of real-world engineering practices and system design. Yet, their use has rapidly spread within academia, industry, and government agencies both nationally and internationally. In particular, CubeSats have caught the attention of parts of the U.S. space science community, which sees this platform, despite its inherent constraints, as a way to affordably access space and perform unique measurements of scientific value. The first science results from such CubeSats have only recently become available; however, questions remain regarding the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats in the future. Achieving Science with CubeSats reviews the current state of the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats. This report focuses on the platform's promise to obtain high- priority science data, as defined in recent decadal surveys in astronomy and astrophysics, Earth science and applications from space, planetary science, and solar and space physics (heliophysics); the science priorities identified in the 2014 NASA Science Plan; and the potential for CubeSats to advance biology and microgravity research. It provides a list of sample science goals for CubeSats, many of which address targeted science, often in coordination with other spacecraft, or use "sacrificial," or high-risk, orbits that lead to the demise of the satellite after critical data have been collected. Other goals relate to the use of CubeSats as constellations or swarms deploying tens to hundreds of CubeSats that function as one distributed array of measurements"-- Publisher's description.

Contents:

CubeSats : a disruptive innovation

CubeSats as a tool for education and hands-on training

Science impact and potential

Technology development : current status and future direction

Policy challenges and solutions

Conclusions and future program recommendations

Appendixes. A. Statement of task

B. CubeSat publications : descriptive statistics

C. Additional technology and policy details

D. Biographies of committee members and staff

E. Abbreviations and acronyms.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed October 28, 2016).

ISBN:

0-309-44266-4

0-309-44264-8