Multiple suppliers of off-the-shelf CubeSat hardware sell side panels for 0.5U CubeSats, but I have not encountered anyone actually building and flying one. Has anyone else?
I only know of CubeSat projects which use some combination of whole and half unit structures. For example, a FIREBIRD is a 1.5U CubeSat. This is generally how 0.5 U structures are used.I am aware of a design project to dock two identical 0.5U CubeSats with one another:
I think a 0.5U CubeSat may be difficult to use unless it is being designed as an engineering exercise. A structure that small will most likely eliminate the possibility of certaing subsystems like attitude determination and control, which may result in a poor communications link.
Will there be a payload or is there any room after power, on-board computer, thermal control (heaters)? If a CubeSat does not have a payload, then what is it's purpose?
Alex, thank you for the link to the Satellite Applications Catapult site. I will follow up with them.
Yes, our 0.5U definitely will have a payload. We have no need for AD&C, and will be building a custom motherboard to host most (if not all) subsystem components to make room for the scientific payload.
There is a project developed by the University of Vigo, it is called FemtoXat and it is a bit smaller than 0.5U, you can try to reach Fernando Aguado ( faguado at uvigo dot es ) . He is currently managing this project and most likely it is gonna being launched soon.
Nice to see your question. If to look back you can find six 200gr picosats developed and fabricated by six PhD student-ladies of Stanford University (http://www.stensat.org/stensat/Stensat.htm). These sats were launched in 2000 with OPAL structure. A couple yeas ago I talked in Roma at the Filippo Graziani's conference on University Cubesats with a student of Prof. Malphrus from Morehead University about simple ACS implementation to his 10x5x2 cm size pocketsat. UniSat-7 is purposed to launch 5 PocketQubes (5x5x5 cm) in nearest time. You can talk with GAUSS team about application of them. However, my opinion is they are mostly intended for technology demonstartion. Last decade we considered basic approach to develop 1 mm size (!) satellite with ACS etc. Also, SSTL published a paper about 45 gr plate-satellite with all axiliaury systems. Perhaps, one of obstructive factor is no possiblity to recognize them from the Earth by surveillance national systems. However, such kind of sats are involved into considereation of IAA SG 4.18 for standartization of small sats.