A de-orbit system design for CubeSat payloads

Compliance with the United Nations recommended 25-year maximum orbital lifetime requirement will restrict future standard CubeSat nanosatellite deployments to altitudes below 600 km. This paper describes a deployable aerodynamic drag device that can be incorporated in basic CubeSat satellite units that can meet the 25-year orbital lifetime constraint for initial orbit perigees of up to 900 km.