ISO 17770:2017

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17770
First edition
2017-06
Space systems — Cube satellites
(CubeSats)
Systèmes spatiaux — Satellites cubiques (CubeSats)
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 2
5 CubeSat requirements . 2
5.1 General requirements . 2
5.2 CubeSat mechanical requirements: External dimensions . 3
5.3 CubeSat mechanical requirements: Mass . 5
5.4 CubeSat mechanical requirements: Materials . 5
5.5 Electrical requirements . 6
5.6 Operational requirements . 6
6 Interface to the launch vehicle: The CubeSat Deployer . 7
6.1 Enclosure . 7
6.2 Interface . 7
6.3 Mass . 7
6.4 Modularity . 7
6.5 Parts attachment . 7
6.6 Release from the Deployer . 7
7 CubeSat and Deployer assurance/quality verification . 7
7.1 General . 7
7.2 Random vibration . 8
7.3 Thermal/Vacuum bakeout . 8
7.4 Shock. 8
7.5 Visual inspection . 8
Bibliography . 9
Foreword
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iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of student satellites developed at universities around
the world. To date, most university satellites require several years to develop and significant financial
resources, making them prohibitive for small programs. New technological developments in small low-
power electronics make smaller, lower-cost satellites feasible.
The CubeSat program has developed a picosatellite standard that significantly reduces the cost and
development time of picosatellites with a specific form factor. In addition, CubeSats can serve as
platforms for in-space experimentation, as well as a means of space-qualifying future small-satellite
hardware.
The CubeSat Standard is an evolution of the picosatellites developed for Stanford’s OPAL mission.
CubeSats are constrained to a 100 mm cube (not including deployment interface rails) with a mass
of one kilogram or less. Led by Stanford University’s Space Systems Development Lab (SSDL), the
CubeSat project is developed jointly by universities and industry worldwide. Within this international
community CubeSat developments at the California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) have been
twofold: first, develop the standardized launcher-interface/deployer mechanism for CubeSats, and
second, demonstrate the feasibility of developing a working CubeSat using low-cost, commercial off-the-
shelf components. The project involves a multidisciplinary team of software, aerospace, manufacturing,
electrical, and mechanical engineering undergraduate students.
In recent years, more sophisticated capabilities have been demonstrated in CubeSats by major space
corporations and major space customers. CubeSat concepts for inclusion in Mars exploration are in
development. Entire companies have been established to solely support the global CubeSat marketplace.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17770:2017(E)
Space systems — Cube satellites (CubeSats)
1 Scope
This document addresses CubeSats, CubeSat Deployer and related verification of assurance/quality
terms and metrics.
This document defines a unique class of picosatellite, the CubeSat. CubeSats are ideal as space
development projects for universities around the world. In addition to their significant role in educating
space scientists and engineers, CubeSats provide a low-cost platform for testing and space qualification
of the next generation of small payloads in space. A key component of the project is the development of
a standard CubeSat Deployer.
This Deployer is capable of releasing a number of CubeSats as secondary payloads on a wide range of
launchers. The standard Deployer requires all CubeSats to conform to common physical requirements,
and share a standard Deployer interface. CubeSat development time and cost can be significantly
reduced by the development of standards that are shared by a large number of spacecraft.
Normative control of the CubeSat design, qualification and acceptance testing is generally applied from
other small satellite specific standards with the exception of CubeSat/Deployer launch environment test.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14620-1, Space systems — Safety requirements — Part 1: System safety
ISO 24113, Space systems — Space debris mitigation requirements
3 Terms and definitions
3.1
CubeSat
picosatellite measuring 100 mm cubic and weighing 1,33 kg or less
Note 1 to entry: Variations on the basic form factor are also considered CubeSats.
3.2
deployer
encloses CubeSats w
...