NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSats
a free ride on
rockets that have room and fuel to spare.
It's like a ride-share program we're already
going into space, so
your CubeSat is welcome aboard!
Once a CubeSat has a seat on a flight, it
will be loaded into a
launcher container on the rocket.
These containers have a long
technical name, but let's just call them "dispensers"
for short.
Each CubeSat is stacked into the dispenser
like a pea in a pod,
with its power turned off until the right
time during the mission.
After the launch, once the rocket is at just
the right elevation, the
main spacecraft separates and heads on its
way.
Then it's the
CubeSats' turn.
A few seconds later, the dispenser door springs
open, and another spring inside pushes the
CubeSats free!
Each CubeSat's transmitters turn on, and its
power and other
tools will begin to work.
Then, your CubeSat is ready for its mini-mission
in space!
