MISC 3: The Next Generation of 3U CubeSats

The NRO\u27s Colony I and II programs have established the 3U CubeSat as a capable and low-cost platform for technology demonstration and other missions. Experience gained from successful Colony-class missions has raised expectations for the capabilities expected in a 3U CubeSat. In this presentation, we will address how we have recently integrated new technologies, including star trackers, high-power solar arrays and EPS, advanced battery protection, higher-speed radios, GPS, propulsion, more powerful computing platforms, new manufacturing techniques and materials, and advanced payloads interfaces into what remains a volume- and mass-limited form factor. We will address the impact on mission-specific configuration requirements on packaging and costs, and discuss real-world examples of customer-driven requirements and their impact on semi-custom designs