CubeSats Initiative in Canada for STEM (CUBICS) 2022

3.1 Eligible Recipients

Canadian universities and other postsecondary institutions.

3.2 Eligible Projects

The CSA invites postsecondary institutions to submit a proposal under one of the following two streams (see Section 7.1 for further details):

• Stream 1. Standalone Scientific Payload Project: This stream is for teams that would like to focus on developing a scientific payload for a CubeSat, including teams that are new to space projects or have less experience in developing a CubeSat. Successful teams will be given the opportunity to build their capacity and acquire hands-on experience through the development of a scientific payload (engineering model (EM) level) compatible with a CubeSat platform. The CSA may provide access to recipients in Stream 1 to test their payload on an aircraft or a stratospheric balloon.

  Reasons to apply under Stream 1:

  1. Unique opportunity for the PI to engage their student team in a hands-on space project and acquire valuable experience otherwise difficult to obtain;
  2. Projects in this stream will be less complex than a full end-to-end CubeSat mission, and will have the financial support and guidance of the CSA (details in Section 6 and Section 7);
  3. Highly stimulating project for students to build CubeSat payloads, central to space missions and necessary for the satellites to achieve their intended mission objectives;
  4. Opportunity to participate in a test campaign on an aircraft or a stratospheric balloon;
  5. Great opportunity to build networks and exchange with other participating teams from across Canada and to learn from more advanced teams that participate in Stream 2;
  6. Teams that participate in Stream 1 could consider using the payloads that they will have developed as a strong starting component of a separate project funded under a future AO.

• Stream 2: End-to-End CubeSat Project: This stream is for teams that have demonstrated experience related to the development of a CubeSat. Teams will have the opportunity to design, build and test a complete CubeSat through an end-to-end project. The project must involve the collection and analysis of science data. The CSA may provide an opportunity for recipients under Stream 2 to launch their CubeSat into space, which would enable teams to operate their satellite and conduct their science experiment in space.

  Reasons to apply under Stream 2:

  1. Unique opportunity to participate in an end-to-end real space mission and acquire valuable experience, with the financial support and the guidance of the CSA (details in Section 6 and Section 7);
  2. Highly stimulating project that could be launched into orbit through a launch opportunity procured by the CSA. Exceptional opportunity to operate the CubeSat and contribute in a meaningful way to the advancement of scientific knowledge and/or the development of new technologies;
  3. Great opportunity to build networks and exchange with other participating teams from across Canada and to mentor less advanced teams that participate in Stream 1.

To be eligible under either Stream 1 or Stream 2, it is mandatory that a project include the following elements:

• Activities related to at least one (1) priority outlined in the Space Strategy for Canada (see Section 3.3). Priority may be given to projects that aim to contribute or solve a problem related to the fight against climate change;
• A funding request that falls under one of the two identified streams described above (see Section 7.1 for further details):
  • Stream 1: up to $150,000 for a standalone scientific payload project, for a duration of up to two and half (2.5) years;
  • Stream 2: up to $350,000 for an end-to-end CubeSat project, for a duration of up to three (3) years, including the operation and the data collection and analysis phase, should the CubeSat be launched into orbit. Project proposals under Stream 2 must include the development of a CubeSat composed of two (2) or three (3) units (2U or 3U), the use of a payload during an operation phase, data collection and analysis;
• A training plan that details the specific areas in which students will acquire expertise and skills. It is mandatory that all proposals include the participation of Canadian students from postsecondary institutions as follows:
  • Stream 1: At least five (5) Canadian students including a minimum of one (1) student from a science faculty, per semester for the duration of the project; or
  • Stream 2: At least ten (10) Canadian students including a minimum of two (2) students from one or more science faculties, per semester for the duration of the project;
• A public engagement plan, complete with the specific activities that clearly highlight communications goals, tactics (tools) and target audiences;
• For proposals submitted under Stream 2 (end-to-end CubeSat project): An attestation from the applicant confirming that they have sufficient capability in the following areas:
  • Ability to obtain licenses for required radio frequencies; and
  • Access to ground station facility or facilities.

Appendix B provides useful background information on CubeSat projects.

Please note:

• For this AO, Canadian students include college students, undergraduate university students, graduate students (master's and doctorate levels) and postdoctoral fellows. The term "Canadian students" also refers to all students (including international students) that are registered in a Canadian university or post-secondary institution.
• A project may not be eligible for funding if the applicant was previously awarded funding by the CSA for a similar project that is still underway. If the proposed project is directly or indirectly related to a project that is currently or was previously funded through a CSA AO or Request for Proposal (RFP), the applicant may still be eligible for funding as long as the proposed project activities are complementary in nature and do not overlap with those of the previously-funded project (see Section 4 of the application form).
• An application related to a specific project must be submitted by only one eligible applicant (institution), who would be the only signatory of a grant agreement (a proposal submitted by several co-applicants will not be accepted).

3.3 Links to CSA Priorities

To be eligible, projects supported under this AO must contribute to at least one (1) CSA priority, as per the Space Strategy for Canada, by advancing scientific knowledge and/or developing new technologies in priority areas.

In addition, in line with the priorities of the CSA and Canada's involvement in the fight against climate change, this AO could prioritize projects that aim to increase our understanding of the causes and effects of climate change and/or that will contribute to fighting climate change.

3.4 Links to the Class G&C Program Objectives

To be eligible, projects supported under this AO must contribute to the achievement of at least one of the following objectives:

• To foster the continuing development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified personnel (HQPs) in Canada in areas relevant to the priorities of the CSA;
• To support the development of science and technology relevant to the priorities of the CSA.

4.1 How to submit an application electronically

1. Download and complete the grant application form;
2. Combine the following documents into a single PDF-formatted file, in the same order as below. In order to be considered complete, the application must contain the following:
   • A completed application form signed (with handwritten or digital signature) by the duly authorized representative;
   • A proposal that complies with the guidelines outlined in Section 7 of the application form and that includes a detailed implementation schedule for the project;
   • The résumé of the PI and of the Co-I(s), if applicable;
   • A letter of support from each Co-I (if applicable) confirming their intent to participate in the project and the nature of their participation;
   • For projects with an industrial partner, a letter of support confirming their intent to participate in the project and the nature of their participation;
   • Letters from other funding contributors confirming their contributions (if applicable);
   • Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act form signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the Applicant Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act section included in the application form);
   • For organizations in Quebec, M-30 Supporting Documentation form completed and signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the M-30 form included in the application form).

   The following document may be required upon request:

   • A copy of the document(s) confirming the legal name of the applicant.

   The application must be prepared as a single PDF-formatted file containing all of the above requested documents with all security features disabled. The proposal and supporting documents must be included in the file as searchable PDF-formatted documents (PDF/A-1a or PDF/A-2a formats preferred). If there are any accessibility issues with the submitted PDF file, all consequences reside with the applicant.

   It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application complies with all relevant federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws and regulations.

   The applicant must keep one hard copy of all the original documents above. At any time, the CSA may require applicants who successfully passed the evaluation stage described in Section 5 of the AO to send a hard copy of their complete application with the original documents.

3. Submit the completed application electronically:
   • Submit an account creation request using the Electronic Proposal Portal. Please note that Google Chrome is the browser of choice for submissions. The Microsoft Edge browser is also supported.
   • In the "Proposal title" field of the Electronic Proposal Portal, please use the following formatting standard: CUBICS 2022_Stream (1 or 2)_Name Of Institution_Last name of PI (e.g. CUBICS 2022_1_InstitutionName_Smith).
   • In the "Organization" section, under "Type," please select "Canadian university or postsecondary institution."
   • The "Applicant" section should contain the contact information for the PI.
   • Allow up to 72 hours for the CSA to send an e-mail confirming the account creation as well as instructions (user guide) on how to access the platform. It is strongly recommended that the account creation request be submitted no later than November 16, 2022.
   • Using the temporary password assigned by the CSA, login to the secured portal to upload protected documents.
   • Please refer to the user guide for instructions on how to securely upload documents.

Please note:

• Applicants using the electronic portal are encouraged to create their account no later than November 16, 2022, to allow for potential technical difficulties. If technical issues cannot be resolved, applicants must submit their application by mail. Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload their complete application well before the submission deadline;
• Applications must be submitted (successfully uploaded) by the applicants no later than November 23, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. (ET).
• The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents are uploaded on the Electronic Proposal Portal within the prescribed deadline;
• The CSA is not responsible for any delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the stipulated deadline;
• Hand-delivered applications will not be accepted;
• Applications sent by e-mail will not be accepted;
• Applicants are asked to not send their application both electronically and by mail or courier service. If multiple applications are submitted, only the latest valid version received will be considered;
• Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Questions and answers related to this AO will be posted on the CSA website in the FAQ Section of this AO (see Section 10). The CSA will not answer questions received after November 10, 2022.

4.2 How to submit an application by mail or using a recognized courier service

The applicant is encouraged to submit their application electronically following the instructions provided in Section 4.1 of the AO. However, if the applicant is unable to submit their application electronically, please communicate with stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca no later than November 16, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. (ET) to obtain instructions on how to submit a paper application by mail or using a recognized courier service.

Applications by mail or using a recognized courier service must be received at the CSA no later than November 23, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents are received by the CSA within the prescribed deadline. The CSA is not responsible for any delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the stipulated deadline.

4.3 Service Standards – Complete Applications

Applicants will be notified in writing of decisions regarding their application. Selected applications will be proactively divulged on the Open Government website. The CSA has set the following service standards for processing times, acknowledgement of receipt, funding decisions and payment procedures.

Acknowledgement of receipt: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt of proposals within two (2) weeks following the AO's closing date.

Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the application within fifteen (15) weeks of the AO's closing date and to send a grant agreement for signature within four (4) weeks after formal approval of the proposal.

Payment: The CSA's goal is to issue payment within four (4) weeks of the successful fulfillment of the requirements outlined in the grant agreement.

Compliance with these service standards is a shared responsibility. Applicants must submit all required documentation in a timely fashion.

5.1 Eligibility Criteria

Applications will first be submitted for an eligibility assessment to verify whether they comply with the following criteria:

• The applicant is an eligible recipient as defined in Section 3.1;
• The proposed project is an eligible project as defined in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4;
• The application complies with the funding provisions of the program stated in Section 7.1.

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

Once the eligibility assessment is completed, applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria. The onus is on applicants to address these explicitly in their application.

• Benefits for Canada and outcomes;
• Feasibility and risks; and
• Resources.

Table 1 below shows the criteria, sub-criteria and associated thresholds, while Table 2 shows a brief description of the graded criteria. A detailed breakdown of all of the evaluation criteria is described in Appendix C. To be considered eligible for funding, the total score obtained for these graded criteria must be 65/100 or greater.

5.3 Evaluation Process

Only applications that have passed the eligibility assessment listed in Section 5.1 will be given further consideration.

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, evaluators will assess the screened applications according to the criteria listed in Section 5.2 and described in more details in Appendix C. The evaluators will include experts in the fields relevant to the proposals. Evaluators may include representatives of the Government of Canada and of other countries, as well as representatives of other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations. If applicable, a multidisciplinary evaluation committee will be formed to evaluate interdisciplinary applications.

An application must receive an overall minimum score of 65%, as well as achieve the minimum thresholds specified in Table 2, in order to be deemed eligible for funding.

Before a final decision is made, the CSA's program manager responsible for this AO may seek input and advice from other organizations, including municipal, provincial, territorial and federal governmental agencies and organizations.

A selection committee made up of CSA experts may carry out a strategic overall selection based on CSA and Government of Canada priorities, such as:

• Alignment with the priorities of the CSA and of the Government of Canada;
• Regional geographic distribution;
• Diversity among universities and postsecondary institutions;
• Representation of PIs who identify as a woman and/or an Indigenous Person.

6.1 Technical guidance and mentorship from the CSA

The CSA may provide guidance to the selected recipients to ensure that the teams gain as much knowledge, skills and expertise as possible through their participation in CUBICS. The objectives of providing such guidance are to maximize the teams' overall learning experience by:

• Optimizing their acquisition of knowledge of space missions;
• Fostering opportunities for collaboration and networking among participating teams, with industry and with the CSA;
• Guiding the teams during questions or technical challenges;
• Supporting the teams to ensure that their payload or CubeSat complies with regulations (e.g., radio licenses) and sharing best practices (for example, orbital debris, launch safety);
• Inspiring participants to pursue a career in the space sector through the acquisition of practical knowledge that will increase their level of employability.

Participating teams will have the opportunity to submit their technical questions to the CSA's technical experts. These questions may serve as the basis for activities such as:

• Webinars;
• Videoconferences;
• Regional design review meetings, coinciding with Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews (PDR and CDR), to which the teams of a given region may be invited to attend, and during which the CSA technical experts may make presentations and provide guidance on technical questions. These sessions may offer opportunities for teams to share their challenges and proposed solutions under the guidance of CSA technical experts and network with other teams; and
• National workshop(s) with a focus on hands-on training (e.g. electronics assembly) at the CSA.

In addition to the above activities, the CSA may provide training documents that teams could find useful when designing and building their payload or CubeSat.

Please note:

• Teams under Stream 1 and Stream 2 may attend all activities mentioned above. Teams under Stream 1 are also welcome to attend activities related to CubeSat design, build, launch and/or operations as observers, as a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge for their academic and professional development.
• The intention behind the activities listed above is to create collaborative mechanisms to assist all teams in achieving their project goals. The CSA values collaboration between teams as one of the most important vehicles to maximize student knowledge, skills and expertise. Teams will be strongly encouraged to support and assist each other in a non-competitive environment.
• Each team will be entirely responsible for the execution and success of their project. Under no circumstances will the projects be those of the CSA, and all final decisions related to the realization of the payload or the CubeSat will rest with the beneficiaries. The CSA will in no way be responsible or liable for the success or failure of any of the CUBICS projects nor will it be liable for damages caused or sustained by either party or by any third party.

6.2 Access to a suborbital flight opportunity (Stream 1)

As stated in Section 3.2 of this AO, recipients under Stream 1 may obtain the access to a test campaign from the CSA, and have their payload fly aboard an aircraft from the National Research Council Canada (NRC)'s fleet (possibly in Ottawa, Ontario) or on a stratospheric balloon (in Timmins, Ontario), depending on the functionality and purpose of the payload. To be eligible, each team responsible for the development of a payload under Stream 1 of this AO will have to deliver a Safety Data Package to the stratospheric balloon or aircraft payload manager. An assessment will then be performed to ensure that the payload meets all the requirements for a safe flight. The test campaign would occur approximately two (2) years after the issuance of the grants to the recipients.

Also, it should be noted that any access to a suborbital flight is at the entire discretion of the CSA. Projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, which could include but not be limited to a financial evaluation, facilities availability and suborbital flight availability.

6.3 Access to Launch Opportunities (Stream 2)

As stated in Section 3.2 of this AO, recipients under Stream 2 may have the unique opportunity to launch their CubeSat into space, operate their satellite for up to a maximum of twelve (12) months and conduct their scientific experiment and/or validation of their science-related technology development from space. The CSA intends to procure launches for eligible CubeSats only. To be eligible, each CubeSat funded under this AO will have to successfully meet certain requirements, including but not limited to the following:

• Meet all of the launcher's interface design and safety requirements in a timely manner (requirements will be confirmed subsequently to selected recipients);
• Obtain the appropriate licenses for all required radio frequencies in a timely manner; and
• Have access to ground station facility or facilities.

Also, it should be noted that any access to a launch opportunity is at the entire discretion of the CSA. Projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, which could include but not be limited to a financial evaluation, facilities availability and launch availability.

Two types of orbits are currently being considered by the CSA. It is recommended that the proposals submitted under this AO be developed considering one of the following two types of orbits:

1. International Space Station (ISS) orbit: Nominal orbit at 400 km altitude and 51º inclination; or
2. High inclination orbit: Nominal orbit at 400-500 km altitude and sun-synchronous inclination.

The CSA intends to launch eligible CubeSats approximately two (2) years after the issuance of the grants to the recipients. As such, grant recipients under Stream 2 must aim at completing their CubeSats (including having obtained the appropriate radio frequency licenses and having implemented or confirmed access to a ground station facility or facilities) within two (2) years after their project start date. The implementation schedule in the applicants' proposal under Stream 2 must reflect this timeline.

The CSA will be the liaison with the launch service provider(s). As such, the CSA will ensure that all integration requirements identified by the CUBICS teams are made known to the launch service provider(s) just as all the requirements demanded by the launch service provider(s) are made known to the CUBICS teams. No CUBICS team is to liaise directly with the launch service provider(s).

7.1 Available Funding and Duration

Transfer payments will be made through grant agreements. The total funding available under this AO is currently expected to be approximately $3.4 million. The two (2) funding categories are:

• Stream 1: Maximum grant of $150,000 for a payload project, over a maximum period of up to two and a half (2.5) years;
• Stream 2: Maximum grant of $350,000 for an end-to-end CubeSat project (2U or 3U), over a maximum period of up to three (3) years. Proposals under Stream 2 must include the development of a CubeSat, the use of a payload during an operation phase, data collection and analysis.

For this AO, the CSA intends to fund up to four (4) projects under Stream 1 and up to eight (8) projects under Stream 2. However, the overall number of grants awarded and their value can vary, are at the entire discretion of the CSA, and could depend, for example, on the availability of funds and the results of the evaluation process.

Given the objectives of this AO and the limited available budget, an eligible recipient (Canadian university or postsecondary institution) may submit multiple applications; however, if two or more applications are submitted with the same designated PI, the CSA reserves the right to select only one of these projects. An eligible recipient may submit only one application for the same project.

The CSA reserves the right to reject any proposals or reduce the amount of the grants at its entire discretion.

Approved proposals will be eligible for a total amount of government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) of up to 100% of total project costs.

To determine the amount of funding that it will allocate, the CSA will take into account the availability of CSA funds, the total cost of the project, and other confirmed sources of funds provided by other stakeholders and the applicant. The CSA reserves the right to reject any application or reduce the amount of the grants at its entire discretion.

Applicants must identify all sources of funding in their applications and confirm this information in a funding agreement if the project is selected for funding. Upon completion of a project, the recipient must also disclose all sources of funding.

7.2 Eligible Costs

Eligible costs are direct expenses that are associated with the delivery of the approved project and that are required to achieve the expected results of the project. Expenses will be covered, subject to the applicant signing a grant agreement with the CSA.

Eligible costs for a grant under this AO are the following:

• Access fees;
• Accommodation and meal allowances;
• Acquisition, development and printing of materials;
• Acquisition or rental of equipment;
• Bursaries;
• Consultant services;
• Costs for carrying out environmental screening and/or impact studies;
• Costs related to obtaining security clearance;
• Data acquisition;
• Data management;
• Laboratory analysis services;
• License and permit fees;
• Marketing and printing services;
• Materials and supplies (including payload or satellite components and hardware);
• Overhead (administrative) costs (not to exceed 15% of eligible costs);
• Participation fees at conferences, committees and events;
• PST, HST and GST net of any rebate to which the recipient is entitled and the reimbursement of any taxes for goods and services acquired in a foreign country net of any rebate or reimbursement received in the foreign country;
• Publication and communication services;
• Registration fees;
• Salaries and benefits paid to eligible students and postdoctoral fellows;
• Translation services;
• Travel expenses.

Please note:

• The CSA intends to offer annual in-person workshops that may be hosted at the CSA's John H. Chapman Space Centre located in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. Each team may send a maximum of two (2) students to attend each of these workshops. Since the CSA aims to promote approaches that increase the representation and advancement of underrepresented populations in space STEM disciplines, teams that send at least one woman and/or one Indigenous Person as part of their delegation could send up to three (3) students. The onus is on the applicant to secure the funding associated with the travel expenses related to the attendance of these workshops and to coordinate the logistics (e.g., number of attendees) with the CSA.

7.3 Other Funding Sources

The CSA expects applicants to secure funding from other sources to support student training and other expenses related to their project, including student salaries, to ensure that students who are employed to work on projects are adequately compensated for their efforts (particularly those who do not work on projects as part of their coursework). For projects that include an industrial partner, Mitacs may be an appropriate organization to obtain funding for student internships. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Mitacs website for further information and to apply.

8.1 Payments

The CSA and each successful applicant (the recipient) will sign a funding agreement. This is a condition for any payment made by the CSA with respect to the approved project.

Payments will be made in a lump sum or installments as described in the signed agreement. Grant funding agreements will include a clause stipulating the recipient's obligation to confirm, once a year in the case of multi-year agreements, their eligibility for the G&C Program – Research Component, and inform the CSA in writing of any changes to the conditions used in determining their eligibility for this component.

8.2 Audit

The recipient of a funding agreement shall keep proper records of all documentation related to the funded project, for the duration of the project and for six (6) years after the completion date of the project, in the event of an audit. This documentation shall be available upon request.

8.3 Conflict of Interest

In the funding agreement, the recipient will certify that any current or former public office holder or public servant they employ complies with the provisions of the relevant Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector, respectively.

8.4 Intellectual Property

All intellectual property developed by the recipient in the course of the project shall vest in the recipient.

8.5 Organizations in Quebec

An organization in Quebec whose operations are partially or fully funded by the province of Quebec may be subject to the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (L.R.Q., c. M-30).

Under Sections 3.11 and 3.12 of this Act, certain entities/organizations, as defined in the meaning of the Act, such as municipal bodies, school bodies, or public agencies, must obtain authorization from the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes (SQRC), as indicated by the Act, before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada, its departments or agencies, or a federal public agency.

Consequently, any entity that is subject to the Act is responsible for obtaining such authorization before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada.

Quebec applicants must complete, sign and include the M-30 Supporting Documentation form with their application.

8.6 Performance Measurement

The CSA will ask the recipients to report on certain elements in their projects, such as the following:

• Increased capacity:
  • Project research team (including students and postdoctoral fellows (PDFs) involved). Note that the grant recipient may be asked to provide the names of the research team members, including the students and PDFs.
• Creation of knowledge:
  • Advancement of knowledge (including technological breakthroughs, technologies leading to a higher level);
  • Production of knowledge (including publications);
  • Presentations (including conferences, seminars, workshops and other outreach activities);
  • Intellectual property (including patents) generated by the project.
• Collaboration:
  • Partnerships;
  • Contribution of partners;
  • Multidisciplinarity.

Recipients will also be required to inform the CSA in advance of important public announcements (for example, press or news releases of interest to the media) resulting from work related to this AO.

8.7 Open Access Publications

In the event that publications result from the project, the CSA wishes to promote the dissemination of findings that result from the projects it funds as quickly and to the greatest number of people as possible. Improved access to scientific results not only allows scientists to use a broader range of resources and knowledge, but also improves research collaboration and coordination, strengthens citizen engagement and supports the economy.

The CSA promotes the use of open access publication and archiving by recipients in order to facilitate the widest dissemination of findings that result from its funded projects. Thus, recipients are invited to publish their articles in a timely manner by using one of the following methods:

1. Accessible online repository (institutional or disciplinary) so that the publication is freely accessible.
2. Journal offering open access to articles.

It should be noted that these two methods are not mutually exclusive and that recipients are encouraged to use both.

Finally, the CSA wishes to receive a courtesy copy of the publications (if not freely accessible) or hyperlink (if freely accessible) and its digital object identifier (DOI). These will be used to improve accessibility by including them in the CSA publications directory.

B.1 Technical Considerations

1. Components: A space mission can only be accomplished by a functioning CubeSat bus and by the successful operation of the onboard payload.
   • For this AO, the payload will be a scientific instrument or a technology used to conduct a scientific experiment. The complexity of the payload depends on the type and the nature of the information or data that the mission intends to collect. Designing a payload shall also take into account requirements like battery power management, data storage and downlink as well as controlling software.
   • As a minimum, a CubeSat bus has the following four key subsystems:
     • Structure: the frame that holds the modules as well as the solar arrays;
     • Power: includes the battery and power conversion and management unit;
     • Communications: the radio for communicating with the ground; and
     • Control and Command: the processor that handles all aspects of the proper functioning of the CubeSat bus and the payload.
   • The ground segment consists in a ground station that is used to command, monitor and communicate with the CubeSat in orbit, and to receive data from the payload. The two basic components required are a radio and an antenna.
   • Operations must be planned in advance and detailed in an operating plan that includes all the activities related to the operations of the CubeSat once in orbit. Operating a CubeSat is subject to several orbital and communication constraints depending on the orbit, which must also be considered in the CubeSat development and operating plan.
2. Form Factor: CUBICS (Stream 2) accepts proposals for 2U or 3U with physical size and mass as follows:

   Table 3

   Form Factor	Dimensions (cm)	Mass (Kg) (for ISS launch only)
   2U	10 × 10 × 20	3.6
   3U	10 × 10 × 30	4.8

3. Orbit altitude and inclination: The CSA intends procure the launches for eligible CubeSats under Stream 2. The proposals must be developed considering one of the following two types of orbits:
   1. Nominal orbit at 400 km altitude and 51º inclination corresponding to an ISS orbit; or
   2. Nominal orbit at 400-500 km altitude and sun-synchronous inclination (high inclination orbit).
4. The CubeSat batteries should maintain charge for a minimum of six (6) months from time of integration into the deployer to time of deployment in space.
5. The CubeSat shall remain in a full power off condition until thirty (30) minutes after deployment. Only an onboard timer system can be turned on immediately after deployment (if it is for a launch from the ISS).
6. Pyrotechnics devices shall not be permitted in CubeSats to be launched from the ISS, if the launch service provider selected by the CSA would use such platform to put in orbit the CubeSats.
7. Components that can be detached or fragmented shall not be allowed.
8. Deployable mechanisms for antennas, arrays or booms will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
9. The CubeSat shall be required to pass three Progress/Safety Reviews before being accepted for launch.
10. Each CubeSat shall include a minimum of two mechanical inhibits that prevent the CubeSat from being turned on accidentally (three if the launch is from the ISS).

B.2 Build versus Buy

It is currently possible to purchase some or all CubeSat subsystems, and even to purchase a turnkey solution that includes the CubeSat bus and the payload (for end-to-end projects). While such an approach reduces risks and shortens project schedule, it potentially offers fewer learning opportunities for students, and comes at a higher cost. That being said, a turnkey or partial turnkey solution can be a more attractive option for applicants with limited experience and/or expertise with satellite design and fabrication or for those involving more junior students.

While building a CubeSat from basic materials may appear to be a cheaper option, it requires experienced spacecraft engineers to supervise the student team and may incur other unexpected costs. The increased technical challenges typically yield greater STEM learning opportunities when the work is performed by students.

B.3 Suggested Technical and Scientific Disciplines for Team Members

Table B-1 represents a typical CubeSat project team structure based on experiences of CubeSat building teams. The structure for a payload team is similar to the CubeSat team. The differences between the two are highlighted in the table. Short team descriptions are also presented in the sections below the table.

Please note:

• While it is possible for a student to play more than one role on the team, it is not recommended. What is most important to the project is that each member shall understand their role(s) and responsibilities right from the beginning. The team size depends on the experience of its members with space projects. CSA recommends a size of 5-10 students for Stream 1 and 10–20 students for Stream 2. Teams shall be composed of students from different cohorts to facilitate knowledge transfer if some team members graduate during the project.

B.4 Development Time

There are certain factors that influence the development time of a payload or CubeSat. A few of them are listed below:

• Team experience with space projects: a payload or CubeSat can be built successfully only if the development guidelines are followed and milestones are respected;
• Complexity of the payload or CubeSat: as the satellite size becomes larger, there is more volume and power generated. The tendency is then to put in multiple payloads or a more complex payload. Consequently, building a 3U CubeSat is typically more difficult than building a 2U CubeSat. The same logic applies for the payload.
• Build versus buy: Several CubeSat suppliers sell components as well as turnkey CubeSats. Buying commercial-off-the-shelf components offers the advantage of a shortened development time.
• The need for testing: a CubeSat is not retrievable once it is launched. Thorough testing is primordial to the success of a satellite project. As such, it is important to allocate sufficient time in the schedule for testing each subsystem, especially for a larger or more complex CubeSat.

Projects under Stream 1 (standalone scientific payload projects) should be completed within two and a half (2.5) years or less, including the test campaign (if applicable), while projects under Stream 2 (end-to-end CubeSat projects) should be completed within three (3) years or less, including the operation phase of the CubeSat (if applicable), data collection and data analysis.

As per Section 6.2, the CSA may fly eligible payloads (Stream 1) approximately two (2) years after the issuance of the grants to the recipients. Similarly, as per Section 6.3, the CSA may launch eligible CubeSats (Stream 2) approximately two (2) years after the issuance of the grants to the recipients.

Table B-2 presents the timeframe planned for each stream. The CSA highly recommends that PIs recruit student team members early enough to be able to start projects immediately upon the signature of the grant agreement.

B.5 Licensing Requirement

The use of RF requires close coordination to avoid unwanted interference and unauthorized usage that can jeopardize public safety. In Canada, the coordination is managed by the Directorate of Spectrum Management and Telecommunications within Innovation, Science & Economic Development (ISED). Communications with a satellite also necessitates an operations license from ISED. The procedures are fairly complex for first-time applicants, but ISED prepared a useful (and still relevant) reference document for CCP teams, entitled "Guidance in preparing licence applications for projects funded through the CSA's Canadian CubeSat Project".

All CubeSats that carry an instrument or payload that falls within the definition of Remote Sensing Space System (defined as one or more remote sensing satellites, the mission control centre including other facilities used to command and operate the satellites, and the facilities used to receive, store, process or distribute raw data from the satellites, even after the satellites are no longer in operation) are required to apply for a license under the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (RSSSA). The enforcement of the RSSSA is the responsibility of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

B.6 Mission Ideas

Swartwout, Associate Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University (Missouri, United States) maintained until 2013 an online database of the university CubeSat missions that he classified broadly into four categories: T-class, S-class, C-class and E-class. They are defined as follows:

• T-Class: mission that has the goal of testing a new satellite component, subsystem or a new technique;
• S-Class: mission that carries a scientific payload for gathering science data in an area of research;
• C-Class: mission that provides communications service such as using the satellite as an amateur radio repeater; and
• E-Class: mission that has the primary focus of providing a training opportunity for students of building and operating satellites.

In fact, the majority of university CubeSats fits into multiple categories. Information on the projects of the teams selected under the CCP AO is available online, while samples that highlight a variety in space mission ideas are also available in Tables A-2 and A-3 of the previous CCP AO.

B.7 Design and Test Reviews

Design and test reviews are essential to the success of every satellite project. They consist of meetings during which the teams present the progress of their project and the results of tests conducted on their CubeSat (Stream 2) to the CSA review team. The responsibility of the CSA review team is to assess whether there is any design issue and whether the progress satisfies the milestones. The end-goal is that the CubeSat meets all the safety requirements of the launch provider (Stream 2), hence maximizing the probability of its launch into space. As such, each CubeSat funded under Stream 2 of this AO will have to successfully pass all design and test reviews, as well as meet other requirements, including but not limited to those outlined in Section 6.3, to potentially gain access to a launch opportunity and be placed into orbit.

For Stream 1, even if the payload is not anticipated to be launched into space at the end of the project, the CSA expects the payload to reach a maturity level sufficient to be integrated into a platform such as an aircraft or a stratospheric balloon for demonstration.

NASA Systems Engineering Handbook is a comprehensive guidebook on design reviews that includes a full list of deliverables for reviews. For CUBICS, the CSA has adjusted the requirements for design and test reviews to be commensurate with a typical college/university payload or CubeSat project. The project stages associated with each design and test review are described in the subsections below, while Table B-2 presents the timeframe planned for each of these stages. It also compares the timelines between a standalone scientific payload project (Stream 1) and an end-to-end CubeSat project (Stream 2).

C.1 Benefits for Canada and outcomes

• Maximum: 45
• Minimum: 29

C.2 Feasibility and risks

• Maximum: 30
• Minimum: 20

C.3 Resources

• Maximum: 25
• Minimum: 16