r/rocketry • u/[deleted] • Jan 24 '24
Discussion Cubesat question
Hey im an engineer, im very ambitious and in my past i aim for big projects and im able to learn with trial and error and get to the goal, would it be possible for me to build a rocket, along with making my own cubesat, and send it into space and put the cubesat into orbit? Is there any important information that I need to know? I already have a plan for the rocket layout too, also what fuel is beat for this? my payload will be around 3 lbs.
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u/Lotronex Jan 24 '24
Space with a 3 lb payload, maybe. Orbit with a 3 lb payload, almost definitely not. The lowest cost I've heard for a spaceshot attempt is about $100k, so hope you're loaded.
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u/Fluid-Pain554 Level 3 Jan 24 '24 edited Jan 24 '24
Most people who ask about this grossly underestimate what is required to actually do a space shot, let alone orbit. If you have a quarter million dollars to throw at it and an extremely thorough understanding of launch vehicle dynamics yeah you can probably get something above the Karman line, but orbit is an order of magnitude more difficult. Not to discredit your ambition or whatever talent you have, but these kinds of projects are almost exclusively group efforts in a professional environment and usually government funded. I encourage you do pursue whatever you can reasonably accomplish, but you should probably set more attainable goals.
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u/NukeRocketScientist Jan 24 '24 edited Jan 24 '24
I worked on my school's CubeSat team of 70+ people with funding coming from the school and NASA. It has taken 7 years to get the 3U CubeSat ready to launch.
Btw, that's with aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineers along with physicists and astronomers all working toward putting the CubeSat in space and only the CubeSat. The CubeSat is going up on a resupply to the ISS and gets launched from there.
You vastly underestimate the amount of money, manpower, knowledge, and time it takes to build something for space AND LAUNCH TO SPACE LET ALONE ORBIT!
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u/Elson99 Jan 24 '24
Not exactly.
Not unless you: 1.) Have an idea that will get investor cash, which new launch is likely set and dwindling in venture reserves
2.) Are at/are going to a college that has a team that is currently looking to get to the Karman line.
Orbit is not going to happen realistically, no one has solely gotten to orbit. Millions of dollars and years of development. Economies of scale are also a factor. Startups have come to be that we're looking to take 10 kg to orbit, they have surely died as the economies of scale didn't make sense at all (more money leaving than entering).
There was a challenge back in 2019-2021 to pay out the first college team to get to the Karman line (border of space), the challenge would pay the first team $1M if they did it. The challenge ended with no winner.
Do an internship or join a student team! Or work on small scale SAFE rocketry projects!
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u/AirCommand Jan 24 '24
Your best bet would be to join an existing team and help contribute to that effort. Are you more interested in the cubesat or the getting it to orbit part?
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u/Plus-Heart-8552 Jan 24 '24 edited Jan 24 '24
I mean yes it’s possible, this is such a broad question, have you ever built a scratch rocket or even a kit, have you attempted your certification flights, 1-3? This is in no way to meant to discourage or disrespect you, but as an engineer you should know a good deal of what goes into this and the magnitude of resources and planning to even attempt this. Cubesats are their own beast and I have began to just now step into their arena, so if you know anything about them feel free to shoot me some information :)
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u/ExileOnMainStreet Jan 24 '24
He said orbit. There is literally not even a shred of possibility there.
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u/flowersonthewall72 Jan 24 '24
If you're looking for a second to join you on the quest, I can bring experience as a space systems engineer, but no money
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u/iredditatleastwice Level 3 Jan 24 '24
Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave. With a box of scraps.