CubeSat Spatial Expedition: An Overview From Design To Experimental Verification

Abstract

Over the past two decades, government space organizations have provided university-level inexpensive access to space that has prompted the design of miniaturized versions satellites for research scope: the ”CubeSats”. If on one hand, the standard specifications of this pico-satellite are widely defined to provide easy access to space for educational and research institutions, on the other hand, the design phases of the mechanical and electronic structures are however a very complex and delicate moment of fundamental importance for the success of the launch. The purpose of this document is to provide an exhaustive and critical picture, derived from a broad and in-depth literary analysis of all the critical phases to be faced in order to structurally verify a CubeSat 1U. Starting from the design phase, passing through the simulation and construction of the nano-satellite up to the effective execution of the experimental tests. The aim is to define a linear and efficient path underlining the possible errors and critical moments of the structural verification of a CubeSat.