cubesat-specs

Standardized CubeSat and PocketQube form factor specifications, design constraints, and launch provider deployer data — no hardcoding required.

pip install cubesat-specs     # PyPI
conda install -c conda-forge cubesat-specs  # conda-forge (coming soon)

Non-Python? All data is also available as machine-readable JSON files — use them from MATLAB, Julia, C++, JavaScript, or any language.

Quick Start

from cubesat_specs import (
    CUBESAT_FORM_FACTORS,
    POCKETQUBE_FORM_FACTORS,
    get_form_factor,
    get_compatible_providers,
    CDS,   # CubeSat Design Specification Rev 14.1
    PQS,   # PocketQube Standard Issue 1
)

# Look up a 3U CubeSat
ff = get_form_factor("3U")
print(ff.width_mm, ff.depth_mm, ff.height_mm)  # 100.0 100.0 340.5
print(ff.max_mass_kg)                            # 6.0
print(ff.volume_liters)                          # 3.405

# Centre-of-gravity check (CDS Rev 14.1 Table 2)
ff.cg_limits.within(1.0, 1.0, 5.0)  # True — within ±2/±2/±7 cm

# PocketQube 2p
pq = get_form_factor("2p")
print(pq.max_mass_kg)          # 0.5
pq.cg_limits.within(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)  # True — within ±1 cm (PQ-Mass-04)

# CDS constraints
print(CDS.rf_silence_minutes)       # 45
print(CDS.outgassing_tml_max_pct)   # 1.0

# PocketQube Standard constraints
print(PQS.min_kill_switches)        # 2
print(PQS.component_envelope_mm)    # 7.0

# Which launch providers accept a 6U?
for provider in get_compatible_providers("6U"):
    deployer_names = [d.name for d in provider.deployers
                      if "6U" in d.supported_form_factors]
    print(f"{provider.name}: {deployer_names}")

CubeSat Form Factors (CDS Rev 14.1)

Key	W × D × H (mm)	Max mass (kg)	CG limits ±cm (X/Y/Z)
0.5U	100 × 100 × 56.75	1.00	2/2/2 *
1U	100 × 100 × 113.5	2.00	2/2/2
1.5U	100 × 100 × 170.25	3.00	2/2/3
2U	100 × 100 × 227.0	4.00	2/2/4.5
3U	100 × 100 × 340.5	6.00	2/2/7
3U+	100 × 100 × 360.0	6.00	2/2/7
6U	226.3 × 100 × 366.0	12.00	4.5/2/7
12U	226.3 × 226.3 × 366.0	24.00	4.5/4.5/7
16U	226.3 × 226.3 × 488.0	32.00	—
27U	300 × 300 × 340.5	54.00	—

* 0.5U, 3U+, 16U, and 27U are community-derived, not in CDS Rev 14.1.

PocketQube Form Factors (PocketQube Standard Issue 1)

Key	W × D × H (mm)	Max mass (g)	CG limit
1p	50 × 50 × 50	250	±1 cm
2p	50 × 50 × 114	500	±1 cm
3p	50 × 50 × 178	750	±1 cm

Dimensions are without the 1.6 mm sliding backplate (Y-axis).

Design Constraints

The CDS and PQS singletons expose every quantitative constraint from the respective standards as simple attributes:

CDS Rev 14.1 highlights

Attribute	Value	CDS §
rail_min_width_mm	8.5	2.2.5
max_protrusion_mm	6.5	2.2.3
outgassing_tml_max_pct	1.0 %	2.1.7
outgassing_cvcm_max_pct	0.1 %	2.1.7
rf_silence_minutes	45	2.4.5
deployable_wait_minutes	30	2.4.4
min_deployment_switches	1	2.3.2
battery_faa_guideline_wh	100	2.1.5

PocketQube Standard Issue 1 highlights

Attribute	Value	PQ req.
min_kill_switches	2	Mech-12
component_envelope_mm	7.0	Mech-08
deployable_envelope_mm	10.0	Mech-08
cg_max_offset_cm	1.0	Mass-04
mass_per_unit_kg	0.250	Mass-01
backplate_thickness_mm	1.6	Table 1
pyrotechnics_allowed	False	Gen-02

Launch Providers & Deployers

Provider key	Provider	Deployers
nanoracks	NanoRacks	NRCSD, NRCSD-E, NRCSD DoubleWide
calpoly	Cal Poly	P-POD Mk III
isis	ISIS	ISIPOD 3U, ISIPOD 6U
exolaunch	Exolaunch GmbH	EXOpod 6U, EXOpod 12U
spaceflight	SpaceFlight Inc.	Sherpa-FX
rocketlab	Rocket Lab	Electron Rideshare Deployer
alba	Alba Orbital	PocketQube Deployer (4p)
jaxa	JAXA	J-SSOD (10 cm class)
dorbit	D-Orbit	ION Satellite Carrier
maverick	Maverick Space Systems	Mercury-3, Mercury-6, Mercury-12

Each DeployerSpec carries: supported_form_factors, max_payload_mass_kg, optional deployment_velocity_min/max_ms and tip_off_rate_max_deg_s (None when proprietary), and optional inclination_deg / altitude_km_min/max.

Data Sources

• CubeSat Design Specification (CDS) Rev 14.1, Cal Poly, 2022
• PocketQube Standard Issue 1, TU Delft / Alba Orbital / GAUSS Srl, 2018
• NanoRacks NRCSD IDD Rev D
• NanoRacks NRCSD-E IDD
• Cal Poly P-POD Mk III User Guide
• ISIS ISIPOD Datasheet
• Exolaunch EXOpod Datasheet
• JAXA JEM Payload Accommodation Handbook Vol. 8
• D-Orbit ION Platform
• Maverick Space Systems

Machine-Readable Data (JSON)

All data is shipped as JSON files in src/cubesat_specs/data/ for use from any language:

File	Contents
form_factors.json	CubeSat (0.5U–27U) and PocketQube (1p–3p) dimensions, mass, CG limits
deployers.json	All deployer specs (velocity, mass, form factors)
launch_providers.json	Provider names, websites, deployer references
standards_cds.json	CDS Rev 14.1 constraints
standards_pqs.json	PocketQube Standard Issue 1 constraints

Regenerate with python scripts/export_json.py.

Citing

If you use this data in academic work, please cite:

@software{cubesat_specs,
  author  = {Pinsker, Julius},
  title   = {cubesat-specs},
  url     = {https://github.com/JuliusPinsker/cubesat-specs},
  version = {0.2.1},
  year    = {2026},
}

A CITATION.cff is included — GitHub shows a "Cite this repository" button automatically.

Contributing

PRs welcome! Priority areas:

• Additional deployers (Tyvak, GomSpace, AAC Clyde Space)
• VEGA/Ariane-6 rideshare specs
• Updated NanoRacks specs post-Voyager acquisition
• SpaceX Transporter mission orbit parameters per flight

License

MIT