IceCube: Submillimeter-Wave Technology Development for Future Science on a CubeSat

This paper provides an overview of the IceCube project, including its payload and CubeSat development and performance in spaceflight. Like other CubeSat missions, IceCube has a goal to miniaturize remote-sensing sensors and to increase the reliability of small satellites. Using small, modular and standardized spacecraft along with miniaturized sensor units, we hope to advance Earth and planetary sciences by forming a space sensor constellation or sending scout-units from a mothership for targeted science investigations. IceCube is a pathfinder at NASA that infuses and integrates small spacecraft technologies to merge it with its larger mission goals. Effective governmentcommercial partnerships have played a key role in meeting the fast-track, lowcost requirements. Early lessons learned from IceCube will benefit the CubeSat community as well as the science investigations that plan to use nano/microsatellites.