they estimate between 2014 and 2020 there will be at least 2,000 CubeSats looking for launches.

If that's true, whoa!

That would mean over $200,000,000 in launch fees it'll certainly help drive the launch market. At the moment there just aren't enough launchers.

When I heard that Planet Labs were going to deploy their constellation of CubeSats from the ISS it struck me as odd since their Dove satellites have a design lifetime of 2+ years so why stick them in a very low orbit where they'd burn up in just 6 months. I guess the answer is simple - there is no alternative - it's unlikely they could buy a higher altitude launch this year or next for 28 3U CubeSats.

It's good to see the likes of Alcantara Cyclone Space developing new launch facilities in Brazil which may come onstream in 2016. Lets hope more enterprises around the world get into the launch business.

73 Trevor M5AKA

On Tuesday, 11 February 2014, 19:14, Bryce Salmi bstguitarist@gmail.com wrote:

http://www.sei.aero/eng/papers/uploads/archive/SpaceWorks_Nano_Microsatellit...

Really goes to show you the demand of CubeSats and what market AMSAT is participating in. Taking this article for being correct, they estimate between 2014 and 2020 there will be at least 2,000 CubeSats looking for launches. If that's true, whoa!

Bryce KB1LQC _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb