{"id":95956,"date":"2015-02-26T12:41:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-26T16:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-344640"},"modified":"2024-03-11T11:14:28","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T15:14:28","slug":"what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/","title":{"rendered":"What are SmallSats and CubeSats?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>S3VI<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/about-us\/\">About S3VI<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Community and Opportunities<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/nasa-smallsat-opportunities\/\">Opportunities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/community-of-practice\/\">Community of Practice Webinars<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/learn\/\">SmallSat LEARN Forum<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/working-groups-and-initiatives\/\">Working Groups \/ Initiatives<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/nen.nasa.gov\/web\/nen\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Engineering Network<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/upcoming-conferences-and-events\/\">Upcoming Conferences and Events<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Tools<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/ssri-knowledge-base\/\">SSRI Knowledge Base<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/sst-soa\/\">State-of-the-Art Report<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/space-mission-design-tools\/\">Mission Design Tools<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/s3vi.ndc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Spacecraft Information Search<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/smallsat-resources\">Resources<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>New to SmallSats?<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/\">Definitions & Standards<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf?emrc=05d3e2\">CubeSat 101<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/s3vi.ndc.nasa.gov\/cubesat201\/\" rel=\"noopener\">CubeSat 201<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/smallsat-resources\/#documentation-nasa\">Guidebooks<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/nasa-smallsat-opportunities\/\">Opportunities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/community-of-practice\/\">Webinars<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/\">SST<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-hero position-relative bg-carbon-black overflow-hidden width-full maxw-full grid-container display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center minh-tablet padding-y-9 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-hero\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"EDSN Flight Units, Flight Spares, and Engineering Units\" style=\"transform: scale(1.5); transform-origin: 56% 66%; object-position: 56% 66%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=300,148 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=768,379 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=1024,506 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=400,198 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=600,296 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ssstp_edsn_acd14-0027-107.jpg?resize=900,444 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"hds-grid-container position-relative display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-start width-full\">\n\t\t<div class=\"width-full maxw-tablet\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-7\">\n\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"display-72 font-weight-extrabold line-height-sm margin-bottom-2 color-spacesuit-white-important\">What are SmallSats and CubeSats?<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg margin-0 color-spacesuit-white-important\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-hero-stats\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important label margin-bottom-2\"><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-row flex-align-center padding-right-2 desktop:padding-right-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"stat-number line-height-sm color-nasa-blue-tint font-weight-thin font-mono-2xl\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important grid-col padding-left-2 tablet:padding-left-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"stat-value line-height-md\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-row flex-align-center padding-right-2  desktop:padding-right-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col grid-col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"stat-number line-height-sm color-nasa-blue-tint font-weight-thin font-mono-2xl\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"color-spacesuit-white-important grid-col padding-left-2 tablet:padding-left-3 tablet:padding-left-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"stat-value line-height-md\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>What are SmallSats?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The size and cost of spacecraft vary depending on the application; some you can hold in your hand while others like Hubble are as big as a school bus.  Small spacecraft (SmallSats) focus on spacecraft with a mass less than 180 kilograms and about the size of a large kitchen fridge.  Even with small spacecraft, there is a large variety of size and mass that can be differentiated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Minisatellite, 100-180 kilograms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microsatellite, 10-100 kilograms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nanosatellite, 1-10 kilograms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Picosatellite, 0.01-1 kilograms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Femtosatellite, 0.001-0.01 kilograms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ames SmallSat mission timeline begins with the launch of Pioneer 10 and 11 launched March 1972 and April 1973, respectively.  These missions were trail blazers for the later Voyager 1 & 2 missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ames\u2019 present SmallSat program has focused on lunar exploration with Lunar Prospector launched in January 1998 followed by LCROSS in June 2009 and more recently LADEE in September 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>What are CubeSats?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>CubeSats are a class of nanosatellites that use a standard size and form factor. \u00a0The standard CubeSat size uses a \u201cone unit\u201d or \u201c1U\u201d measuring 10x10x10 cms and is extendable to larger sizes; 1.5, 2, 3, 6, and even 12U. \u00a0Originally developed in 1999 by California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and Stanford University to provide a platform for education and space exploration. \u00a0The development of CubeSats has advanced into its own industry with government, industry and academia collaborating for ever increasing capabilities. \u00a0CubeSats now provide a cost effective platform for science investigations, new technology demonstrations and advanced mission concepts using constellations, swarms disaggregated systems.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png?w=720\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Diagram comparing sizes of CubeSats\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what_are_cubesats.png?resize=600,450 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">CubeSats are a class of nano- and microsatellites that use a standard size and form factor.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA Ames launched its first CubeSat, GeneSat, in December 2006.  Since then Ames has launched 16 CubeSat spacecraft varying in size from 1U to 3U with an additional 12 CubeSats in development or awaiting launch. Included in the list of CubeSat launches planned is the first true swarm, Edison Demonstration of Small Networks (EDSN), the student let TechEdSat-4, and Agency\u2019s first 6U, EcAMSAT.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Space Technology Mission Directorate. Technology drives exploration and the space economy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?w=525\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=394,600 394w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>STMD Small Spacecraft Technology<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png 7680w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/SSTP.png?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?w=1152\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png 1275w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=675,900 675w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=900,1200 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1152px) 100vw, 1152px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/cubesat-launch-initiative\/cubesat-launch-initiative-resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>CubeSat Launch Initiative Resources<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?w=1170\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=229,300 229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=768,1008 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=780,1024 780w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=1170,1536 1170w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=1560,2048 1560w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=305,400 305w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=457,600 457w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=686,900 686w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=914,1200 914w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_cover_page_01.jpg?resize=1524,2000 1524w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are SmallSats? The size and cost of spacecraft vary depending on the application; some you can hold in your hand while others like Hubble are as big as a school bus.  Small spacecraft (SmallSats) focus on spacecraft with a mass less than 180 kilograms and about the size of a large kitchen fridge.  Even with [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":68520,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2854,3823,2831,3342],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4237],"coauthors":[9525],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"What are SmallSats and CubeSats?","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/edsn.swarm_of_cubesats.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/edsn.swarm_of_cubesats.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sonja Caldwell"}],"creator":["Sonja Caldwell"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Small Spacecraft Technology Program","Ames Research Center","S3VI","Science Instruments"],"dateCreated":"2015-02-26T16:41:00Z","datePublished":"2015-02-26T16:41:00Z","dateModified":"2024-03-11T15:14:28Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"What are SmallSats and CubeSats?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/edsn.swarm_of_cubesats.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2015-02-26T16:41:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Small Spacecraft Technology Program,Ames Research Center,S3VI,Science Instruments\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Sonja Caldwell\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":2,"time_ago":"9 years","featured_image":{"id":68520,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/edsn.swarm_of_cubesats.jpg","title":"edsn.swarm_of_cubesats","alt":"Edison of Demonstration of Small Sat Networks_CubeSats","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/95956"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/95956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":630087,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/95956\/revisions\/630087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95956"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=95956"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=95956"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=95956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}