ISO 17770:2017

Space systems — Cube satellites (CubeSats)

ISO 17770:2017 addresses CubeSats, CubeSat Deployer and related verification of assurance/quality terms and metrics. ISO 17770:2017 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.

Systèmes spatiaux — Satellites cubiques (CubeSats)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Jun-2017
• ICS: 49.140 - Space systems and operations
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 14 - Space systems and operations
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 14/WG 1 - Design engineering and production
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Completion Date: 15-Feb-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

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

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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
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ISO 17770:2017(E)
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

© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved iii
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ISO 17770:2017(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards

bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out

through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical

committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International

organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of

electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are

described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the

different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the

editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).

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URL: w w w . i s o .org/ iso/ foreword .html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, Aircraft and space vehicles,

Subcommittee SC 14, Space systems and operations.
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ISO 17770:2017(E)
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.

© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved v
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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
...