Follow my journey building my first PocketQube
Hi, I'm Morgan, and for about a decade now I have dreamed of building a small satellite that I can send into space, monitor, and in my own small way, contribute to understanding more about life beyond our tiny planet.
But, life has been busy, really busy, and I never got around to getting started. The furthest I got was buying this domain name.
Now, I'm excited to say, I'm actually diving in and getting started, and I'm on a mission to finish my first PocketQube by next summer. I feel like this will give me more than enough time to learn and build without being rushed.
Oh, and if you don't know what a PocketQube is, I'd say the easiest way to think about it is just a tiny satellite, used for space research. And by tiny, I mean tiny. Most PocketQubes are 5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm and have a mass of no more than 250 grams.
The entire concept of a PocketQube is also still relatively new — it was first developed in 2009 by Morehead State University and Kentucky Space, who developed the spec essentially to help universities do space science.
Since then, there has been a growing community of aspiring space scientists, building these tiny satellites and sending them out to do cool and interesting things.
There are also a couple of companies that specialize in PocketQubes, like Fossa Systems and Alba Orbital, both of which have done a great job continuing to grow and support the space science community.
As for my first PocketQube, I'm still finalizing exactly what I want to study in space — I want it to be something meaningful that can really make a contribution. But I've started buying parts, so the journey has officially begun.
Since I was a little kid I have been obsessed with space, but I never thought I would have the chance to have something I created in space, sending data back to Earth, and helping us all understand the mysteries of space a little bit more.
Excited to finally make this dream come true, and to share it with all of you.
Here's to the journey ahead!
— Morgan