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Space science with CubeSats and nanosatellites

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Abstract

At the dawn of the space age, nanosatellites, weighing between 1 and 10 kg, were used because of launcher limitations. In the past twenty years, a renaissance has occurred as a consequence of the success of microsatellites in accessing auxiliary and piggyback launch opportunities driving affordability. In addition, the capabilities and flight demonstrations of microelectronics components in orbit and the revolutionary CubeSat initiative have opened up a wealth of flight opportunities and stimulated an explosion in the supply chain. More recently, nanosatellite capabilities have been driven by the twin forces of commercial and scientific innovation. Commercial innovation has driven both the expectation and reality of reliable nanosatellites as companies build their businesses on the back of CubeSat manufacture; scientific innovation has stimulated the development of high-performance satellite payloads and subsystems. This Perspective reflects on the history and current state of the field, and offers a future outlook for nanosatellite science missions.

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Fig. 1: A jack-in-the-box launcher from Nanoracks capable of accommodating four 3U satellites.

Spire Global.

Fig. 2: A Venn diagram showing the overlap between nanosatellites and CubeSats.
Fig. 3

NASA/JPL-Caltech

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. In-Space Missions Limited, Bordon, Hampshire, UK

    J. Douglas Liddle, Antony P. Holt, Susan J. Jason, Kathryn A. O’Donnell & Edward J. Stevens

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  1. J. Douglas Liddle
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  2. Antony P. Holt
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  3. Susan J. Jason
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  4. Kathryn A. O’Donnell
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  5. Edward J. Stevens
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Correspondence to J. Douglas Liddle.

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The authors declare the following competing interests: they are employed by In-Space Missions Limited to develop new space missions and provide consultancy and procurement support to the space industry.

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Liddle, J.D., Holt, A.P., Jason, S.J. et al. Space science with CubeSats and nanosatellites. Nat Astron 4, 1026–1030 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01247-2

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