CubeSats at ESA

Over the last twenty years, miniature satellites called CubeSats have been shaking up the space industry, making accessing space easier and cheaper for those who could previously only dream of it. Having initially been developed as educational tools, CubeSats are increasingly being put to active use in orbit for technology demonstration, scientific studies, and even commercial purposes. And just like typical satellites, they are custom built to fulfil the specific requirements of their mission.

ESA began giving university students the chance to develop their own space mission when it kicked off its CubeSat education programme — Fly your Satellite!— in 2013. But ESA is now also using CubeSats for professional space missions. Under ESA’s Discovery and Preparation activities many CubeSat-focussed studies have been funded and “technology challenges” are regularly opened to get the most brilliant proposals for new space technology. Click here for more information.