PocketQube


A PocketQube is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a size of 5 cm cubed, has a mass of no more than 250 grams, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf components for its electronics.
Beginning in 2009, Morehead State University and Kentucky Space developed the PocketQube specifications to help universities worldwide to perform space science and exploration. While the bulk of development comes from academia, several companies build PocketQubes, such as and Alba Orbital. PocketQube projects have even been the subject of Kickstarter campaigns. The PocketQube format is also popular with amateur radio satellite builders.

Design

The PocketQube specification accomplishes several high-level goals. Simplification makes it possible to design and produce a workable satellite at low cost. Encapsulation of the launcher-payload interface takes away the prohibitive amount of managerial work previously required for mating a piggyback satellite with its launcher. Unification among payloads and launchers enables quick exchanges of payloads and utilization of launch opportunities on short notice. PocketQube is similar to CubeSat in this regard.
The standard was first proposed by Professor Bob Twiggs of Morehead State University, and the intention was for a satellite which could fit in a pocket, hence the name PocketQube.

History

First proposed in 2009 as a solution to the increasing costs of CubeSat launches to low Earth orbit. There have been 11 PocketQubes launched as of end of 2019.

Workshops

The first US workshop was held at NASA Ames and at Cape Canaveral in April 2014. There was a three-year gap until the next PocketQube workshop was held at TU Delft in The Netherlands in March 2017. The third workshop took place also at TU Delft in March 2018, with 22 presentations and 70 attendees. This is now an annual event for the PocketQube development community.

Launched

Listed in ascending order by launch date.
NameTypeOrganisationMissionLaunch Date RocketCOSPAR IDStatusBrokerDecay dateLaunch
Number
2.5PMorehead State University, Sonoma State UniversityTeaching Tool2013-11-21, 07:11Dnepr2013-066X
No longer in Orbit		GAUSSDecay: 2019-02-131
1.5pAmateur GroupAmateur Mission2013-11-21, 07:11Dnepr2013-066W
Contact lost:
2015-07-19		GAUSSDecay: 2018-05-181
2.5pUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountySensor/dynamic attitude experiments2013-11-21, 07:11Dnepr2013-066AD
Inactive		GAUSS1
1pTech demo, Camera SSTV, 3 Axis Reaction Wheel and pp Thrusters2013-11-21, 07:11Dnepr2013-066V
Inactive, N/C		GAUSS1
1pBudapest University of Technology and Economics, HungaryMeasurement of the radio spectrum in the UHF TV band2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084JAlba Orbital2
2pTest a new thermal isolation material in space2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084HAlba Orbital2
1pLoRa Demonstration & Deployable solar panels.2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084FAlba Orbital2

3pStara SpaceExperimental2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084D
Unconfirmed		Alba Orbital2

3pStara SpaceExperimental2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084E
No longer in Orbit		Alba OrbitalDecay: 2020-04-072
1pACME AtronOmatic, LLC Amateur, testing novel receiver2019-12-6
08:18		Electron2019-084G
Unconfirmed		Alba Orbital2

In development

NamePictureTypeOrganisationMissionLaunch Date RocketBrokerStatusRemarks
1pPicosat SystemsEarth ObservationTBCTBCTBCIn development
1pDIYSATELLITE
Argentina		Technology DemonstratorQ4 2020SoyuzGAUSSIn development
SMOG-11pBudapest University of Technology and Economics, HungaryMeasurement of the radio spectrum in the UHF TV bandQ4 2020SoyuzGAUSSIn development
Discovery 1a1pCamera / Photo SatTBCTBCTBCIn developmentWindform XT based PocketQube testing of the shelf components for space use
Unicorn-12pAlba Orbital UGTech DemonstratorDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In development
1pUniversity of Malta + University of BirminghamTechnology Demonstrator + Ionospheric SounderTBCTBCTBCIn development
3pDelft University of TechnologyTechnology DemonstratorDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In development; due to financial problems with Vector Launch, the launch of this satellite is uncertain.
Unicorn-2a3pAlba Orbital UGTechnology DemonstratorDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In development; due to financial problems with Vector Launch, the launch of this satellite is uncertain.
EASAT-21.5pAmsat EAAmateur MissionDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In developmenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20180515183712/https://www.amsat-ea.org/easat-2/
SATLLA2pAriel UniversityTesting a laser communication linkDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In development
APRS PocketQube1pNational Chiao-Tung UniversityAPRS PocketQube for Moving Objects TrackingTBCTBCTBCIn development
Sanosat-11pAMSAT EA/NEPALEducationDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Developmenthttp://www.myrepublica.com/news/21899/
UBO1pSatellite Applications CatapultOutreachTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttp://buildubo.co.uk/build/
Myansat-11pIndependentOutreachTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20190115020853/http://myansat.com/
TFTQube1pThe Flame TrenchAmateurTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttps://theflametrench.com/flagship/
TBCTBCUniversity of ZacatecasSTEMTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttps://www.researchgate.net/project/Design-and-Implementation-of-a-PocketQube-system-for-educative-purposes
grizuSAT 1pZonguldak Bülent Ecevit UniversityEducationDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Developmenthttps://x.grizu-263.space/
LibertyQube-11pLiberty Life LLcExperimentalTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttps://www.libertylife-llc.com/
SatDuino1pTechnical School N° 5 of Mar Del PlataEducationTBCTBCTBCIn Developmenthttps://satduinot5t1.wixsite.com/satduino
GENESIS N/L2pAMSAT-EAAmateurQ4 2020Firefly AlphaPicoBus 1 FOSSA / LIBRESPACEIn Development
QUBIK 1/21pLibre Space FoundationEducationQ4 2020Firefly AlphaPicoBus 1 FOSSA / LIBRESPACEIn Development
FOSSASAT-1B1PFossa SystemsIoT CommsQ4 2020Firefly AlphaPicoBus 1 FOSSA / LIBRESPACEIn Developmenthttps://fossa.systems
FOSSASAT-22pIoT Comms / ADCS / EOQ4 2020Firefly AlphaPicoBus 1 FOSSA / LIBRESPACEIn Developmenthttps://fossa.systems
BYqube-11pBrigham Young UniversityEducationFeb 2021TBCTBCIn Development
Pycubed-11pStanford UniversityEducationDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Development
Hades1.5pAmsat-eaDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Development
Trsi-21pAcmeDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Development
CMU PocketQube1pCarnegie Mellon UniversityDecember 2020Falcon 9Alba Orbital Cluster 3In Development
DynOSSAT-EDU1pBHDynamicsTBCTBCTBCIn Development

''PocketQube'' vs ''PocketQub''

The PocketQube standard originally started as PocketQub. This was changed in 2012 by Professor Bob Twiggs of Morehead State University. The standard is now referred to as PocketQube.

Launch

As of December 2019, the only launch brokers capable of providing launch integration for PocketQube satellites are , Libre Space Foundation, Alba Orbital and GAUSS Srl.