CubeSats, miniature satellites weighing less than a bowling ball, are making a big impact on space exploration. These affordable and agile instruments are allowing scientists to study the cosmos in ways previously unimaginable. With the ability to focus on specific scientific goals, CubeSats are helping to accelerate the pace of discovery and open up new avenues for space research. As these tiny satellites continue to evolve, they may even hold the key to making humans a multiplanetary species, according to experts.
The Rise of CubeSats
CubeSats, which are little satellites weighing not as much as a bowling ball, are changing how mankind goes to space. The tiny wonders are inexpensive, nimble and designed to do very particular science—making them a game-changer in space exploration.
CubeSats are much less expensive to develop and test than conventional satellites, which can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. This enables a flow of missions more often and diverse with less risk也 In one instance, a team at Brown University was able to build a CubeSat in less than 18 months costing under $10K which aptly underscores how approachable these SmallSats can be.
The results show that CubeSats are more than just a cheap space technology. These small sizes also means that they can be readily flown in massive numbers, enabling the deployment of satellite constellations that provide hundreds or thousands of simultaneous observations of a single phenomenon. That has already led to CubeSats exploring Mars with the InSight lander and scouting worlds far, far away like 55 Cancri e, the smallest such NASA instrument ever peering at an exoplanet.
This would mean space exploration is taken to a whole new level — literally.
CubeSats are becoming ever more critical in deep space exploration as the space industry matures. Because the small satellites are inexpensive, they also provide a great deal of flexibility so scientists can concentrate on specific scientific objectives rather than having to design the instruments over a broad range.
Perhaps the most thrilling news is the concept of forging ahead with CuspSats for deep-space assignments. In 2024, the HERA mission of the European Space Agency will see humans reach into deep space and also for the first time send CubeSats to explore this binary system in deep space. And in 2025 the M-Argo satellite will be smallest CubeSat to embark on its solo mission investigating an asteroid of its shape, mass and surface minerals.
By challenging themselves with ambitious CubeSat missions, these teams are revealing new information about the Earth and the solar system, opening the door for more adventurous human missions to follow. The information for these CubeSats in orbit could not only help them detect and map water on the Moon as they are a part of Artemis I, it may prove essential to future lunar habitation.
What Lies Ahead For CubeSats in Space Research?
The future of these tiny satellites appears quite bright as CubeSats continue to demonstrate themselves in the field of space exploration. CubeSats are likely to become more important in the years ahead because they have the potential to help meet specific scientific objectives relatively cheaply and quickly.
A major benefit of CubeSats is their short time to develop and deploy. Large, complex satellites can take years to design and launch, whereas CubeSats can be designed, tested, and launched into space within months. Being faster to implement, this could lead to a more flexible and actionable way of doing space research — potentially allowing up multiple missions in quick succession to tackle new challenges or seize sudden opportunities.
Furthermore, he elaborated such small satellites can become the solution for humans to be a multiplanetary species, as CubeSats technology progresses. CubeSats are intended to help in testing new technologies at low cost, and could prepare the way for riskier, yet more ambitious deep-space missions as we continue humanity’s march towards maintaining a permanent presence beyond Earth. With the new generation of scientists and engineers discovering the possibilities of CubeSats, there is only one way for space exploration to go in the future—up.
