Is the diminutive CubeSat suitable for real science? Of course, says Space Daily:
The future of cubesat projects is only limited by the imagination, researchers believe. The capabilities of cubesat systems are growing at an ever-increasing rate as technological advances are made.
Opportunities are many to accelerate this technology through engineering research in an array of fields, including materials research, 3-D printing, sensor miniaturization, micro-electro-mechanical systems, systems engineering, radio science, communication algorithms and networks.
That quote from Space Daily introduces a workshop on May 24, which will be hosted by the National Science Foundation to further explore the utility of the CubeSat for scientific research and STEM workforce development.
And yes, having delivered a CubeSats to study the X-ray relic radiation from the Big Bang, we think they're ideal for science. It also doesn't hurt that Bob Twiggs teaches just down the road at Morehead State University.
Wayne
