Space Regulatory Glossary Industry

CubeSat

/ˈkjuːbsæt/ noun

1. A class of miniaturized satellite built to a standard form factor based on 10 cm cubes (1U = 10x10x10 cm, up to 2 kg per the current CubeSat Design Specification). Common configurations range from 1U to 12U, with 3U and 6U being the most popular for commercial and research missions.
2. The CubeSat standard, developed at Cal Poly and Stanford in 1999, democratized access to space by enabling standardized deployers, rideshare launches, and commercial off-the-shelf components. CubeSats are subject to the same FCC licensing requirements as larger satellites.

Read: How Satellite Licensing Works

Related terms

smallsat A satellite with a mass typically under 500 kg, encompassing CubeSats, microsatellites (10-100 kg), and minisatellites… rideshare launch A launch arrangement in which multiple satellites from different operators share a single rocket, splitting the launch… FCC The Federal Communications Commission. The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international…

Mentioned in The Downlink

• How Satellite Licensing Works: A Complete Guide

  FCC, FAA, NOAA, and ITU filing processes, costs, timelines, and common mistakes. A plain-language guide to U.S. satellite licensing.

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