# CUBEEK CubeSat Educational Kit

> Open-source 1U CubeSat educational kit powered by Arduino Pro Mini with LoRa communication, multi-sensor payload (IMU, barometer, GPS, temperature), solar-powered EPS, and ground station dashboard for learning satellite engineering.

## Quick Facts

- **Brand:** Orion Space
- **Board Type:** cubesat-kit
- **Price:** ~$220
- **Product Readiness:** diy-kit
- **CPU:** ATmega328P @ 16MHz
- **CPU Architecture:** AVR 8-bit
- **RAM:** 2KB SRAM
- **Flash:** 32KB
- **USB:** Micro-USB (FT232R)
- **Power:** 5V via Micro-USB / 3.7V Li-ion (solar charging)
- **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V
- **Dimensions:** 100 x 100 x 100 mm (1U CubeSat)
- **Weight:** < 1.33 kg

## Connectivity

- **Wifi:** false
- **Bluetooth:** false
- **Zigbee:** false
- **Ethernet:** false
- **Lora:** RA-02 433MHz (SX1278)

## Open Source

- **Firmware:** Yes
- **Schematics:** No
- **PCB Layout:** No
- **License:** MIT

## Compatible Firmware

arduino

## Use Cases

- stem-education
- satellite-engineering
- telemetry
- environmental-monitoring
- gps-tracking

## Components

- **ATmega328P** (mcu): On-Board Computer (OBC) based on the Arduino Pro Mini with ATmega328P running at 16MHz, with built-in FT232R USB programmer and real-time clock. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fww1.microchip.com%2Fdownloads%2Fen%2FDeviceDoc%2FAtmel-7810-Automotive-Microcontrollers-ATmega328P_Datasheet.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **RA-02** (radio): Ai-Thinker RA-02 LoRa transceiver based on Semtech SX1278 operating at 433MHz for satellite-to-ground communication link. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.ai-thinker.com%2F_media%2Flora%2Fdocs%2Fra-02_v1.1_datasheet.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **RFM26W** (radio): HopeRF RFM26W ISM transceiver supporting CW, FSK, and GFSK modulation with external dipole antenna. Available in the CUBEEK-CW variant. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoperf.com%2Fdata%2Fupload%2Fportal%2F20190307%2FRFM26W.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **MPU6050** (imu): InvenSense MPU-6050 6-axis inertial measurement unit combining a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope for attitude determination. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Finvensense.tdk.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F02%2FMPU-6000-Datasheet1.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **BMP085** (barometer): Bosch BMP085 digital barometric pressure sensor measuring 300-1100 hPa with temperature output for altitude estimation. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-shop.adafruit.com%2Fdatasheets%2FBMP085_DataSheet_Rev.1.0_01July2008.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **DS18B20** (temperature-sensor): Maxim/Dallas DS18B20 1-Wire digital temperature sensor measuring -55 to +125 degrees C with +/-0.5 degree accuracy for thermal monitoring. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fdatasheets.maximintegrated.com%2Fen%2Fds%2FDS18B20.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **TEMT6000** (light-sensor): Vishay TEMT6000 ambient light sensor with spectral response matching the human eye for illumination measurement. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vishay.com%2Fdocs%2F81579%2Ftemt6000.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **NEO-6M** (gps): u-blox NEO-6M GPS receiver with 50-channel acquisition engine and -161 dBm tracking sensitivity for position and time data. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.u-blox.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fproducts%2Fdocuments%2FNEO-6_DataSheet_%28GPS.G6-HW-09005%29.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- **INA219** (power-monitor): Texas Instruments INA219 bidirectional I2C current and power monitor for EPS housekeeping telemetry, measuring solar panel and battery performance. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ti.com%2Flit%2Fds%2Fsymlink%2Fina219.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)

## Protocols

- **I2C**
- **SPI**
- **UART**
- **1-Wire**
- **ADC**
- **LoRa**

## Available Software

- **[CUBEEK Dashboard](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Forionspacenepal%2Fcubeek-public%2Ftree%2Fmain%2FCUBEEK-Dashboard&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)**: Node.js ground station dashboard with real-time telemetry plotting on localhost:4000
- **[Cubeek Flight Firmware](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Forionspacenepal%2Fcubeek-public&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)**: Arduino C++ flight software for OBC sensor acquisition and LoRa telemetry transmission
- **[Ground Station Firmware](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Forionspacenepal%2Fcubeek-public&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)**: Arduino receiver firmware for the ground station LoRa receiver module

## Description

CUBEEK is a complete 1U CubeSat training kit designed by Orion Space in Nepal, built to teach students the fundamentals of satellite engineering through hands-on assembly and operation. The kit follows the standard CubeSat form factor (10x10x10cm) and includes all major satellite subsystems: an Electrical Power System (EPS) with solar panel and Li-ion battery charging, an On-Board Computer (OBC) based on the Arduino Pro Mini, a LoRa-based communication module for satellite-to-ground data relay, and a multi-sensor payload board. The structure is built from 3D-printed PLA parts and 2mm clear acrylic panels, making it lightweight and easy to assemble.

The payload subsystem carries an impressive array of sensors for a kit at this price point. The MPU6050 6-axis IMU provides accelerometer and gyroscope data for attitude determination, the BMP085 barometric pressure sensor measures altitude and atmospheric conditions, a DS18B20 Dallas digital temperature sensor monitors thermal conditions, the TEMT6000 ambient light sensor tracks illumination levels, and a NEO-6M GPS module provides positioning data. The EPS subsystem uses an INA219 current/voltage monitor for housekeeping telemetry, giving students real experience with power budgeting — a critical skill in spacecraft design.

The kit comes with a complete ground station receiver and a Node.js-based dashboard application that plots real-time telemetry graphs on localhost:4000. All firmware is written in Arduino C++ and is fully open source under the MIT license on GitHub. Two variants are available: the standard CUBEEK with LoRa (RA-02, SX1278) communication, and the CUBEEK-CW variant which uses an RFM26W transceiver supporting CW, FSK, and GFSK modulation with an external dipole antenna — ideal for amateur radio operators and more advanced RF experimentation. Both kit and fully assembled options are offered.

Whether you are a university instructor building a space engineering curriculum, a STEM educator looking for an engaging classroom project, or a hobbyist curious about satellite technology, CUBEEK provides a realistic and affordable introduction to CubeSat systems without the complexity and cost of flight-grade hardware.

## Where to Buy

- [Tindie](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tindie.com%2Fproducts%2Forionspace%2Fcubeek-cubesat-educational-kit%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export) — $220.00

## Resources

- [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tindie.com%2Fproducts%2Forionspace%2Fcubeek-cubesat-educational-kit%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)
- [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Forionspacenepal%2Fcubeek-public&ref=openhardware.directory&product=cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit&source=md-export)

## Tags

`cubesat`, `arduino`, `lora`, `satellite`, `education`, `stem`, `open-source`, `gps`, `imu`, `telemetry`, `ground-station`, `nepal`

## Images

![CUBEEK CubeSat Educational Kit](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit/062d583d451e.jpg)
![CUBEEK CubeSat Educational Kit](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit/8189dbfc03bf.jpg)
![CUBEEK CubeSat Educational Kit](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit/c36b47fc77e2.jpg)
![CUBEEK CubeSat Educational Kit](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/cubeek-cubesat-educational-kit/7e19a66d3ae5.png)
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