# An Overview of CubeSat Missions and Applications
###### Abstract  
The proliferation of CubeSats in Earth orbit has accelerated dramatically in recent years, with projections indicating continued growth in the coming decades. This review examines the evolution of CubeSat applications, from basic technology demonstrations to complex mission capabilities, including Earth observation, telecommunications, astronomical research, biological experimentation, and deep-space exploration. A notable shift has occurred over the past fifteen years, with CubeSats transitioning from standalone platforms to integrated nodes within larger constellations, particularly for Earth observation and telecommunications applications. We analyze the key enabling factors behind the CubeSat revolution, including decreased launch costs, miniaturized electronics, standardized components, and institutional support frameworks. Through the examination of significant past, current, and planned missions, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of CubeSat capabilities across diverse application domains. The review highlights how these miniaturized satellite platforms are democratizing access to space while enabling innovative scientific and commercial applications previously restricted to larger spacecraft. annosatellite; CubeSat; CubeSat missions; earth observation; telecommunication; astronomy; space exploration; technology demonstration; CubeSat constellation 2  
Currently, the vast majority of nanosatellites, as well as a considerable number of microsatellites, adhere to the CubeSat architecture. This architecture was first established in 1999 through the CubeSat project, a collaborative effort between Professor Jordi Puigu-Suari at California Polytechnic State University and Professor Bob Twiggs of Stanford University's Space Systems Development Laboratory. The term CubeSat defines a class of small-sized satellites that adopt a standard size and form factor, in which the base unit is defined as \"U\" corresponding to a cube with sides approximately 10 cm in length. In this context, a 1U CubeSat resembles a 10 cm \(\times\) 10 cm \(\times\) 10 cm cube with a maximum expected mass of up to 2 kg. Similarly, a 2U CubeSat has approximate dimensions of 10 cm \(\times\) 10 cm \(\times\) 20 cm and a maximum mass of 4 kg. CubeSats are equipped with four rigid aluminum rails on their corners which support the satellite during launch and aid in its eventual deployment, while some other CubeSats are supported by aluminum tabs located on only two of their corners [3]. Larger CubeSats such as 3U, 6U, 8U, 12U, and 16U can be constructed by repetitive addition of 1U building blocks as presented in Figure 1. Furthermore, smaller CubeSat form factors such as 0.25U are also possible and have been utilized, while larger ones, such as 24U and 27U have been proposed for future missions. Table 2 provides more accurate information on the typical maximum dimensions (at the rails) and maximum allowable weight of CubeSats based on their size; however, the exact values (especially the weight) ultimately depend entirely on the CubeSat dispenser that will be used. Furthermore, depending on the dispenser used, protrusions from the rail dimensions are commonly allowed on specific areas of the satellite. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Classification** & **Satellite Mass (kg)** \\ \hline Large satellites & \textgreater{}1000 \\ Medium satellites & 500–1000 \\ Minisatellites & 100–500 \\ Microsatellites & 10–100 \\ Nanosatellites & 1–10 \\ Picosatellites & 0.1–1 \\ Femtosatellites & \textless{}0.1 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: A common satellite classification based on mass [2]. Figure 1: An illustrative example of some commonly used CubeSat sizes. There are two primary methods for deploying CubeSats into orbit. In the first method, CubeSats are carried by launch vehicles inside specifically designed containers called CubeSat dispensers (also commonly referred to as CubeSat deployers).