23 May 2016

New National Academies Report: Achieving Science with CubeSats

The following is adapted from an announcement by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Achieving Science with CubeSats: Thinking Inside the BoxIn the last few years, hundreds of contained "nano" satellites known as CubeSats have been launched in low-Earth orbit for many purposes, including the collection of targeted scientific data. Federal agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are exploring the potential of these highly affordable satellites in advancing research goals.

A new report, Achieving Science with CubeSats: Thinking Inside the Box, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concludes that CubeSats have demonstrated usefulness for scientific data gathering and can also augment — but not replace — the capabilities of large satellite missions and ground-based facilities. The report identifies examples of high-priority science goals that could be pursued through the use of CubeSats in areas such as solar and space physics, planetary science, and Earth science.

The report states that in order to continue building the capabilities of CubeSats for research, federal support is crucial, and identifies several steps NASA and NSF should take to ensure that CubeSats reach their full potential.

Copies of the report are now available.