CUBELAB: 1-LITER MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH ON THE ISS

摘要

CubeLab is a standard for doing microgravity research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Developed by the University of Kentucky Space Systems Laboratory, it's designed to provide such capabilities "to a broader and more diverse collection of researchers. The CubeLab standard leverages several well known, well-defined, and well-supported standards to simplify access to space for those developers; these include the CubeSat standard for the physical form-factor and the USB standard for power and data connection." A CubeSat, which is launched into orbit around Earth, is a satellite that takes the form of a cube 10 centimeters on a side and weighing around 1 kilogram. Developed by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University, "Cube-Sats have the potential to be excellent platforms for technology development and small science missions, and promote student involvement in design, fabrication, and flight missions," as NSF describes it. But CubeSats must operate on their own in space, and for some experiments, the vacuum of space isn't necessary.