CubeSats are currently required to follow the traditional secondary payload model. In this model, secondarypayloads must identify a particular launch opportunity with a primary. The secondary payloads must commit to thelaunch and are subjected to any delays solely due to the primary. Additionally, this secondary payload paradigm isforcing suboptimal use of excess launch capacity since it complicates the process to add additional secondarypayloads close to the launch date. This situation does not scale to support the growing demand for CubeSat launchesthat could potentially reach 100s of CubeSats per year within the next few years. A more flexible secondary launchmodel is required to support the CubeSat community and provide the fast access to space made possible by theCubeSat standard. This flexible model will allow developers to focus on the development of their spacecraft. Severalkey developments are necessary to reach a truly flexible secondary launch capability including technical, political,and regulatory issues. Some of the most critical are currently being addressed by work being performed by Cal Polyand their industrial and government partners.
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