# 195: A Bunch of Sputniks

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-04-12
- Length: 1h 04m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/195-a-bunch-of-sputniks

## Summary

Jordi Puig-Suari, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly SLO and co-founder of Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, explains the origin and evolution of the CubeSat standard. He details how student projects at Cal Poly and Stanford bypassed traditional aerospace constraints by using commercial off-the-shelf components, leading to a $100,000 question about risk and cost. The conversation covers the transition from academic toy to industry standard, the role of launch providers, and Tyvak's current work on 50-kilogram microsats using similar philosophies.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=6) Introduction: Jordi Puig-Suari and Cal Poly SLO
- [2:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=134) Lightning Round: Favorite Objects and Space Programs
- [5:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=343) The Geometry of CubeSats: Why They Aren't Perfect Cubes
- [7:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=449) The $100,000 Question: How CubeSats Became an Industry Standard
- [16:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=1006) Naysayers and the Evolution of Launch Opportunities
- [25:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=1501) Common Student and Industry Mistakes in Satellite Design
- [29:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=1763) CubeSat Architecture: Linux, ARM, and Commercial Components
- [38:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=2314) The CubeSat Conference and Helping New Developers
- [43:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=2625) Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems: From Launch Services to 50kg Microsats
- [52:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks#t=3170) Future of CubeSats: Launch Costs, Debris, and Innovation

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cal Poly SLO (company)
- Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (company)
- Stanford (company)
- Planet (company)
- Skybox (company)
- Terabella (company)
- JPL (company)
- Pumpkin (company)
- Gum Space (company)
- Inspire (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- OneWeb (company)
- CubeSat (product)
- CP4 (product)
- Voyager (product)
- Buccaneer (product)
- Arduino (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Satellite Design Engineering with Dan Esparon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon) (The Amp Hour)
- [Planet: Will Marshall and Robbie Schingler](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-12-13-planet-will-marshall-and-robbie-schingler) (How I Built This)
- [From Closed to Open Source: Revolutionizing the Satellite Industry with Ian Itz, Director of IoT at Iridium](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-29-from-closed-to-open-source-revolutionizing-the-satellite-industry-with-ian-itz-d) (Over the Air)
- [Inspirations and Aspirations - Recanting Rocket Rationale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-06-26-inspirations-and-aspirations-recanting-rocket-rationale) (The Amp Hour)
- [Satellites and EVs with Joris Aerts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-11-23-satellites-and-evs-with-joris-aerts) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.