CubeSats   CubeSats integration     CubeSats are picosatellites of standardised dimensions (cubes of 10 cm per side, with a maximum mass of 1 kg) which can be operated from university or radio amateur ground stations. They offer hands-on experience to aerospace engineering students in designing, developing, testing and operating a real spacecraft system and its ground segment. As part of the ESA Education programme, seven CubeSats built by European universities will be flown during the debut of Europe's new Vega launch vehicle at the beginning of 2012. Together they represent a diverse range of designs and a variety of miniaturised technologies and sensors. The CubeSats will be accommodated in three P-POD deployment systems which are to be mounted on the LARES primary payload. Each 1 kg CubeSat will be deployed into a high inclination, low Earth orbit, and is expected to operate in orbit for up to four years using a small ground station based at its respective university.   Quick Facts Project: CubeSats Level: University Status: 7 CubeSats integrated with P-PODS, ready for launch Contact: Piero Galeone, education @ esa.int       Last update: 1 February 2012 More information  •  CubeSat teams (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM0QNSXXXG_0.html)  •  CubeSat images (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMO5KVX7YG_mg_1.html)  •  CubeSat videos (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMLGIWX7YG_0.html) Related news  •  CubeSats into orbit (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMW5KYXHYG_0.html)  •  A five year journey (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMV4RH8RXG_0.html)  •  Ready for flight (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMG1C8XZVG_0.html)  •  ESA Cubs integrated (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM3L0WWVUG_0.html)  •  2nd CubeSat workshop (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM8S7WPXPF_0.html)  •  2nd CubeSat workshop, call for papers (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMAYTRTKMF_0.html)  •  Call for CubeSats on the Vega maiden flight (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMSJ8QR4CF_0.html)  •  The Vega maiden flight CubeSat workshop (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM18OEMKBF_0.html)  •  Educational payloads opportunity for Vega (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEMPX4V7D7F_0.html) Related links  •  Vega launcher (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/ASEKMU0TCNC_0.html)  •  CubeSat community (http://cubesat.calpoly.edu/)  •  Vega VV01 launch (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Vega/)