Modular CubeSat Structure Enabling Rapid Payload Integration and Delivery

The CubeSat assembly, integration, and test (AIT) process is typically lengthy and serial in its execution. This introduces serious programmatic and schedule risks to many CubeSat missions. The modular structure presented here is aimed at mitigating these risks by providing a novel, "plug and play" approach where major system elements are compartmentalized and the critical path for avionics and payload is parallelized. This allows for a parallelized workflow throughout the AIT process, which can accelerate final integration. Breaking down the system into smaller, more manageable components also aides in the identification and isolation of any anomalies that arise during the assembly process.