Learn to design & build a CubeSat
Practical, no-nonsense guides for students, engineers and hobbyists building nanosatellites. Learn the theory, then put it straight into practice with our free, all-in-one CubeSat & SmallSat design tools.
How to Build a CubeSat: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Everything a first-timer needs: form factors, subsystems, budgets, testing and launch — the whole CubeSat build explained in plain English.
CubeSat Power Budget: Sizing Solar Panels & Batteries
Average vs peak load, eclipse fraction, solar sizing and battery depth of discharge — with a worked 3U example you can copy.
CubeSat RF Link Budget Explained
EIRP, path loss, G/T, Eb/N0 and link margin demystified — with a worked UHF downlink example for a LEO CubeSat.
How to Choose an Orbit for Your CubeSat
Altitude, inclination, sun-synchronous vs ISS deployment, coverage, lifetime and the 25-year deorbit rule — how to pick the right LEO orbit.
Building a Ground Station for Your CubeSat
Antennas, rotators, LNAs, SDR vs LoRa and licensing — what you need on the ground to actually hear your satellite.