cubesat-specs 0.1.1

Standardized CubeSat & PocketQube form factor specs with launch provider deployer constraints

cubesat-specs

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

pip install cubesat-specs

Quick Start

from cubesat_specs import (
    CUBESAT_FORM_FACTORS,
    POCKETQUBE_FORM_FACTORS,
    get_form_factor,
    get_compatible_providers,
)

# Look up a 3U CubeSat
ff = CUBESAT_FORM_FACTORS["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

# PocketQube 1p
pq = POCKETQUBE_FORM_FACTORS["1p"]
print(pq.max_mass_kg)  # 0.25

# Unified lookup (CubeSat + PocketQube)
get_form_factor("6U")   # returns CubeSatFormFactor for 6U
get_form_factor("2p")   # returns CubeSatFormFactor for 2p PocketQube

# 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 (Cal Poly CDS Rev 14.1)

Key	W × D × H (mm)	Max mass (kg)	Min freq (Hz)
0.5U	100 × 100 × 56.75	1.00	100
1U	100 × 100 × 113.5	2.00	100
1.5U	100 × 100 × 170.25	3.00	100
2U	100 × 100 × 227.0	4.00	100
3U	100 × 100 × 340.5	6.00	100
3U+	100 × 100 × 360.0	6.00	100
6U	226.3 × 100 × 366.0	12.00	100
12U	226.3 × 226.3 × 366.0	24.00	100
16U	226.3 × 226.3 × 488.0	32.00	100
27U	300 × 300 × 340.5	54.00	100

PocketQube Form Factors (PocketQube Standard Issue 1)

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

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)

Each DeployerSpec carries: supported_form_factors, deployment_velocity_min/max_ms, tip_off_rate_max_deg_s, max_payload_mass_kg, and optional inclination_deg / altitude_km_min/max.

Data Sources

• CubeSat Design Specification (CDS) Rev 14.1, Cal Poly, 2022
• PocketQube Standard Issue 1, 2018
• NanoRacks NRCSD IDD Rev D
• NanoRacks NRCSD-E IDD
• Cal Poly P-POD Mk III User Guide
• ISIS ISIPOD Datasheet
• Exolaunch EXOpod Datasheet

Contributing

PRs welcome! Priority areas:

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

License

MIT