Multi-Purpose CubeSat at the ISS

Cubesats are routinely deployed at the ISS but only for classic stand-alone missions, relying on the natural decay of the spacecraft orbit and positive separation from the ISS. Future human exploration missions will require a number of techniques which could be efficiently demonstrated at the ISS with increasing levels of the complexity with a small Cubesat, serving as a multi-purpose platform adaptable for various missions. Among others, the purpose of exterior station inspection will be demonstrated in this project. This study is to define a multi-purpose 8U class Cubesat to be launched from the ISS in a pressurized logistics module and connected to an internal and external docking station for power supply and data transfer (AD[1]).

ESA RFP No. AO/1-8321/15/NL/KML/abz
Note: Application Rejected by Funder