CubeSat Launch Initiative Resources
For media inquiries, please contact:
Leejay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center
leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov
Below are resources to get started developing CubeSat missions.
Educational Getting-Started
- NASA CubeSat 101: Basic Concepts and Processes for First-Time CubeSat Developers (pdf)
- NASA Videos: “What is a CubeSat?“, “How Do CubeSats Get into Orbit?“, “What Does a CubeSat Do?“
Design & Technical Specifications
- California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo: 1U – 12U CubeSat Design Specifications (pdf)
- NASA Launch Services Program Office: Program Level Dispenser CubeSat Requirements Document (LSP-REQ-317.01 B) (pdf)
- NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) Interface Control Document
Licensing & Regulatory Guidance
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Guidance for Small Satellites (DA: 13-445)
- NASA Spectrum Guidance for Small Satellite Missions
- International Amateur Radio Union (IARU): Amateur Radio Frequency Coordination
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) Application Process
Tracking & Post Launch Operations
Lessons & Case Studies
- CubeSat Information and Lessons Learned
- Identifying and Overcoming Challenges in High School CubeSat Programs
- CSLI Final Mission Report Guidance
- CSLI Mission Summary Sheet
- CSLI Frequently Asked Questions
- CSLI Proposer’s Guide
NASA & Industry Reference Handbooks
- 2022 NASA Strategic Plan
- NASA Science Plan (2020-2024)
- NASA Spacecraft Conjunction Assessment and Collision Avoidance Handbook
- Process for Limiting Orbital Debris
- CSLI Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Template
- U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices
- Recommendations for Optimal CubeSat Operations
- Threaded Fastening Systems Requirements
- Standard Materials and Processes for Spacecraft
- Lessons Learned for Small Satellite Developers
- Mission Success Handbook for Cubesat Missions
- NASA Systems Engineering Handbook
- NASA Work Breakdown Structure Handbook
- NASA Risk Management Handbook
Tools & Collaboration
- Small Satellites Services & Collaboration Pamphlet
- Small Satellites Regulations Best Practices
- NASA Outgassing Data for Selecting Materials
- NASA CubeSat Poster/Cut-out (“Print Your Own”)
- Satsearch Tool
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