CubeSats – a 21st century (r)evolution

Abstract

From a space science and technology perspective, 2011 has very special significance. On 12 April we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the first human space flight, when, in 1961 Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) orbited our planet for 108 minutes. Closer to home, an important milestone was reached with the establishment of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) , it's operation starting in April, signaling an exciting new chapter in South Africa's space programme. Also for the first time on the South African continent, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) will be held in Cape Town from 3-7 October 2011. And, a far less milestone is being approached right here on the Cape Flats - over the past two years a group of young inventive engineering students has painstakingly designed and pieced together Africa's first CubeSat, which will be ready for launch by the end of 2011. Before introducing these CubeSats, let us take a quick look at satellites.