PocketQube

PocketQube
Specifications
Launch mass250 g
Dimensions5 × 5 × 5 cm (1p)

A PocketQube is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a size of cube with 5 cm sides (one eighth the volume of a CubeSat), has a mass of no more than 250 grams, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf components for its electronics.

Beginning in 2009,[1] Morehead State University (MSU) and Kentucky Space developed the PocketQube specifications to help universities worldwide to perform space science and exploration. While the bulk of development comes from academia, several companies build PocketQubes, such as Fossa Systems and Alba Orbital.[2] PocketQube projects have even been the subject of Kickstarter campaigns.[3][4] The PocketQube format is also popular with amateur radio satellite builders.[5]

Design

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The PocketQube specification accomplishes several high-level goals. Simplification makes it possible to design and produce a workable satellite at low cost. Encapsulation of the launcher-payload interface takes away the prohibitive amount of managerial work previously required for mating a piggyback satellite with its launcher. Unification among payloads and launchers enables quick exchanges of payloads and utilization of launch opportunities on short notice. PocketQube is similar to CubeSat in this regard.

The standard was first proposed by Professor Bob Twiggs of Morehead State University, and the intention was for a satellite which could fit in a pocket, hence the name PocketQube.

Workshops

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The first US workshop was held at NASA Ames and at Cape Canaveral in April 2014. There was a three-year gap until the next PocketQube workshop was held at TU Delft in The Netherlands in March 2017. The third workshop took place also at TU Delft in March 2018, with 22 presentations and 70 attendees. This is now an annual event for the PocketQube development community. In 2023 it was rebranded to the PocketQube conference to reflect the growth in the PocketQube community. It is held annually at the Glasgow University Union (GUU), in Glasgow, Scotland.

Launched

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Listed in ascending order by launch date.

  – Indicates low altitude launch.
  • * Tinysat do not follow the currently recognized PocketQube Mechanical standard as they deploy from a cubesat with a rail interface and not from a dedicated MR-Fod style PocketQube deployer on a tabbed baseplate (which all other orbital pocketqubes on the list have used). This makes them a variant of the PocketQube standard.

In development

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PocketQube vs PocketQub

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The PocketQube standard originally started as PocketQub.[19] This was changed in 2012 by Professor Bob Twiggs of Morehead State University. The standard is now referred to as PocketQube.

Launch

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As of December 2019, the only launch brokers capable of providing launch integration for PocketQube satellites are Fossa Systems, Libre Space Foundation, Alba Orbital and GAUSS Srl.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Also known as T-LogoQube, MagPocketQube, Eagle-1
  2. ^ Intended to reach orbit. Launch vehicle failed while under first stage flight on a suborbital trajectory.

References

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  1. ^ Twiggs, Bob. "Making it small" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  2. ^ Alba Orbital
  3. ^ "Kickstarter". Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Kickstarter, Wired UK". Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  5. ^ "AMSAT UK". 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Technical details for satellite BEAKERSAT 1". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  7. ^ "SATVIEW - EAGLE 2 - Norad 39436U - Tracking satellites and Spacejunk in Real time". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  8. ^ "UBC Rocket BCIT launch". Facebook.
  9. ^ "UBC Rocket". Facebook.
  10. ^ "Black Tusk Launch". YouTube.
  11. ^ "SMOG-P - NORAD 44832 - 3D Online Satellite Tracking". www.satflare.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  12. ^ "ATL-1 - NORAD 44830".
  13. ^ "FOSSASAT-1 - NORAD 44829 - 3D Online Satellite Tracking".
  14. ^ "NOOR 1A".
  15. ^ "NOOR 1B - NORAD 44828 - 3D Online Satellite Tracking". www.satflare.com. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  16. ^ "TRSI - NORAD 44831 - 3D Online Satellite Tracking".
  17. ^ a b "IARU Sat Coordinator". www.amsatuk.me.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  18. ^ a b "IARU Sat Coordinator". www.amsatuk.me.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  19. ^ "Standard". Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
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