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Mars-bound CubeSats catch first glimpse of the Red Planet

Michael Irving October 22, 2018

Back in May, NASA launched some extra luggage along with the Mars InSight lander – two briefcase-sized CubeSats named MarCO-A and MarCO-B. These two little spacecraft are the first of their kind to venture into deep space, and now they've sent us back their first glimpse of the Red Planet.

Space

Japanese Cubesats are one small step for space elevators

Michael Irving September 24, 2018

For over a century people have floated the idea of a space elevator – which is exactly what it sounds like – but the logistics of that just aren’t possible yet. Now Japan has launched a pair of satellites to test out some technologies that might help make a space elevator a reality in future.

An artist's conception of the STARS-Me satellites, two CubeSats connected by a tether with a robot ...

Space

Award-winning CubeSat becomes the first to detect an exoplanet

David Szondy August 16, 2018

The ASTERIA satellite has claimed the first exoplanet to be detected by a CubeSat. It was able to accurately measure the transit light curve of 55 Cancri e as it passed in front of its parent star.

Space

First radar-equipped CubeSat among three heading to the ISS

David Szondy May 19, 2018

When the latest Cygnus cargo mission to the SS lifts off, its manifest will include three CubeSats, including the first equipped with radar. The size of three cereal boxes and weighing only 26 lb (11.8 kg) each, the miniature satellites will be used to demonstrate new technologies in orbit.

The RainCube 6U CubeSat with fully-deployed antenna

Space

MarCO probes send back Pale Blue Dot image as they go where no CubeSat has gone before

David Szondy May 15, 2018

In a nod to the famous Pale Blue Dot image sent back by Voyager 1, the MarCO-B CubeSat has beamed back its own image of the Earth and the Moon. It's the first image from the two MarCO CubeSats and was transmitted a day after they reached a distance of 1 million km (621.371 mi) from the Earth.

The first image returned by one of NASA's Mars Cube One (MarCO) CubeSats shows the Earth ...

Space

NASA prepares to send CubeSats to Mars

David Szondy April 20, 2018

When NASA's InSight mission to Mars lifts off on May 5, it won't be alone. Nestled inside the Atlas V launcher on the aft bulkhead carrier of the Centaur upper stage will be two CubeSats that will make up the Mars Cube One mission, or MarCO.

Space

ESA's next CubeSat will be able to maneuver through space by itself

Anthony Wood December 21, 2017

ESA’s next technology-testing CubeSat will be fitted with two tiny butane-powered thrusters, making it the agency’s first miniature satellite with the capacity to move through space under its own power.

Artist's impression of GomX-4A & 4B pictured in orbit soon after launch

Space

NASA's Dellingr spacecraft paves way for more reliable CubeSats

David Szondy November 28, 2017

NASA is carrying out pre-commissioning tests on a small satellite that could have a big impact on future missions. The shoebox-sized Dellingr spacecraft is designed to not only carry out science operations, but to demonstrate that it is possible to produce robust CubeSats with a low failure rate.

NASA Goddard's 6U Dellingr CubeSat is designed to make CubeSats more robust and reliable

Space

The "Space Kingdom of Asgardia" has launched its first satellite

Michael Irving November 19, 2017

Humanity’s first “space nation”, Asgardia, is a step closer to getting off the ground after its first satellite was launched last week. The end goal is for millions of people to live on satellites, but don’t pack your bags just yet: Asgardia-1 is just a CubeSat carrying 500 GB of pictures and text.

An artist's rendition of the eventual plans for Asgardia, which are far more advanced than the ...

Space

New propulsion system gets CubeSats moving with teaspoons of water

Michael Irving August 8, 2017

Most CubeSats don’t pack their own propulsion systems, instead hitchhiking into orbit aboard other satellite launches. Now, to make them more maneuverable, researchers have developed a system that would allow the mini satellites to safely propel themselves by spraying jets of ordinary water.

A team from Purdue University has developed a propulsion system for CubeSats that can turn the ...