CubeSat are small standardized satellites typically flown as secondary and containerized payloads piggybacking on the launches of larger satellites. Their low entrance cost have been a revolution in opening access to space for a broad range of institutions. In this talk the basics of CubeSat standards, technology and development are going to be presented. The goal is to proliferate the knowledge of what it takes to successfully build, launch and operate a CubeSat within and beyond the hacker community.
It has been 12 years since the first CubeSat was launched. Invented as a standard for university student satellite projects, the advantages of the CubeSat standard made it outgrow the educational field. The (relatively) low entrance hurdle in terms of cost and regulations has inspired many to pursue their own satellite project. But why do about 50% of all first-time CubeSats fail early? This talk is aiming at spreading the knowledge of how to tackle the task of conducting a CubeSat mission. What are the special requirements for CubeSats? How is the space environment different from what we came to expect for earth-based projects? What kind of components are available? What (FOSS) tools are available for the design and verification process?