334
June 2020
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
Introduction
Cubesats usage is evolving from scientific demonstration and
educational platforms to standardized space-borne scientif-
ic instruments that support operational earth observation
applications (Liebig 2000, Sandau 2010, Woellert et al.
2011, Qiao et al. 2013, Diaz et al. 2016, Kopacz et al. 2020).
The effectiveness of Cubesat technology is being attested to
globally as nanosatellites are increasingly used to support in-
novative scientific and operational missions (Rose et al. 2012,
Qiao et al. 2013, Xia et al. 2017, Poursanidis et al. 2019).
Cubesats have long been recognized as having the potential
to be a disruptive force that could replace large conventional
earth observation satellites (Southwood 2000, Diaz et al.
2016, Mhangara et al. 2020).
Cubesats have benefited from the accelerated progression to-
wards miniaturization of space-borne satellite platforms and
the availability of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) compo-
nents (Woellert et al. 2011, Matandirotya et al. 2013). Small
satellites are generally classified into five groups known as
Minisatellite (100–500 kg), Microsatellite (10–100 kg), Nano-
satellite (1–10 kg), Picosatellite (0.1–1
kg) and Femtosatellite (0.01–0.1 kg)
(Sandau 2010, Woellert et al. 2011).
Despite their small size, Cubesats are
increasingly being considered as ideal
platforms for hosting compact earth
observation instruments needed to
take critical measurements. Conven-
tional earth observation scientific
instruments mounted on Cubesats
include visible and near-infrared
sensors, near-infrared spectrometers,
magnetometers, radiometers and
short wavelength radars (Liebig 2000,
Qiao et al. 2013, Diaz et al. 2016).
To date, at least 1200 Cubesats have
been launched into low-earth orbit, and this number is pre-
dicted to grow (Sandau 2010, Xia et al. 2017).
Cubesats Around the World
Globally, the development of miniaturized satellite plat-
forms has been pioneered by universities (Sandau 2010, Xia
et al. 2017). Initially introduced as low-cost space research
and engineering projects for university students, Cubesat
technology has proliferated in the industry and has been
widely adopted by space agencies internationally (Blouvac
et al. 2000, Liebig 2000, Southwood 2000). The growth in
Cubesat technology has been augmented by a simultaneous
acceleration in technological advancements in nano-, micro-,
and miniature technologies in technical fields that include
telecommunications, (Opto)electronics, materials, sensors,
fluidics, and instrumentation (Woellert et al. 2011, Diaz et
al. 2016). This technological wave enabled the development
of a variety of miniaturized and novel autonomous instru-
ments and systems to facilitate remote measurements and
scientific experiments on a miniaturized platform.
Cubesats have been adopted by space agencies internationally
for scientific tests and important scientific missions. Some
prominent Cubesat programs include The National Aeronau-
tics and Space Administration’s (NASA) CubeSat Launch
Initiative program, European Space Agency (ESA)-funded
Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative (SSETI),
the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative in the USA,
and the Cubesat Programme at the Cape Peninsula Universi-
ty of Technology’s French South African Institute of Technol-
ogy (F’SATI) whose Cubesats have been funded by the South
African National Space Agency (SANSA) (Blouvac et al. 2000,
Southwood 2000, Steyn et al. 2013, van
Zyl et al. 2013).
The commercial viability of using
Cubesats for operational earth obser-
vation applications has also gained
the attention of private companies
(Mhangara et al. 2020). The low
capital layout cost, rapid development
and related low-risk levels associated
with Cubesat platforms are attractive
for investors venturing into the space
industry. Many academic spin-off
companies are being established in-
ternationally to develop and integrate
Cubesat components and subsystems
as well as to provide earth observa-
tion data and downstream products and services (Rose et
al. 2012, Xia et al. 2017). A business value chain now exists
that is comprised of manufacturers of COTS components,
suppliers of Cubesat kits, providers of complete Cubesats,
companies for launch services, data vendors and providers
for downstream value-added products and services. In a
recent market study of the satellite industry, the economic
value of Cubesats was $152 million in 2018, and projected
to rise to $375 million by 2023. The earth observation and
traffic monitoring segment constitute a large share of the
global Cubesat market (
. Promi-
nent earth observation companies that have emerged include
Planet Labs, which has a constellation of more than 100
Cubesats in low earth orbit imaging over 250 million km2 of
the earth’s landmass daily. The Planet Labs Cubesat weighs
about 5kg and is 10x10x30 centimeters in size.
Cubesats are a feasible way of participating in space-related
activities due to their cheap manufacturing costs, low launch
Despite their small size,
Cubesats are increasingly
being considered as
ideal platforms for
hosting compact earth
observation instruments
needed to take critical
measurements.
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Vol. 86, No. 6, June 2020, pp. 333–340.
0099-1112/20/334–340
© 2020 American Society for Photogrammetry
and Remote Sensing
doi: 10.14358/PERS.86.6.333
