A Subsystems Analysis of Two CubeSat Missions

Abstract

CubeSats have rapidly become the most cost-effective package for operating a payload in space. With the successful launch of KUbeSat-1, the University of Kansas has shifted its focus to its next space venture. Two design candidates have been proposed for selection as the next KUbeSat mission. The first mission plans to operate a novel CubeSat-scale mass spectrometer for measuring particle density and composition in the upper atmosphere. The second mission would utilize a radar imager for crop or ice sheet measurements. Both missions would allow students to engage in the satellite development process while enabling research into undeveloped areas of the CubeSat market.