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Calcimator

CubeSat Budget Calculator

Build cost, launch cost, and operations for CubeSat missions.

Inputs

Results

Launch ($K)

180

Total mission cost ($K)

719.3

Spacecraft bus ($K)92.8
Components ($K)45
Payload ($K)100
Integration & test ($K)52.4
Ground ops ($K)96
Insurance & licensing ($K)52.1
Estimated mass (kg)3.99
Cost per kg ($K/kg)180.3
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Select CubeSat form factor (1U, 2U, 3U, 6U, 12U) and enter payload cost ($K).
  2. Set launch cost per unit ($K) and mission duration (months).
  3. Indicate whether the mission is commercial or academic for overhead multipliers.
  4. Review cost breakdown: bus, components, payload, launch, integration/test, and operations.
  5. Total mission cost typically runs 2–5× bus cost alone — budget for all phases from the start.

How the result changes with CubeSat size (U)

CubeSat size (U)Launch ($K)Total mission cost ($K)
3.6216955.5
106002,151.5
181,0803,287.2
241,4404,139

What each input means

CubeSat size (U)
Number of standard CubeSat units. 1U = 10x10x10 cm, ~1.33 kg. Common sizes: 1U, 3U, 6U, 12U.
Payload cost ($K)
Cost of the primary instrument or payload in thousands of dollars.
Launch cost per U ($K)
Rideshare launch cost per CubeSat unit. SpaceX Transporter: ~$50-70K/U. Dedicated: $100-300K/U.
Mission duration (months)
Planned operational mission lifetime in months.
Commercial (1) or Academic (0)
0 = university/academic mission (lower labor & licensing costs). 1 = commercial mission.

What each result means

Spacecraft bus ($K)
Cost of the satellite bus structure and assembly.
Components ($K)
EPS, ADCS, comms, OBC subsystems.
Payload ($K)
Primary instrument or payload cost.
Launch ($K)
Rideshare launch cost.
Integration & test ($K)
Assembly, integration, environmental testing.
Ground ops ($K)
Ground station access and mission operations.
Insurance & licensing ($K)
Launch insurance, FCC/ITU licensing.
Total mission cost ($K)
All-in mission cost including program management.
Estimated mass (kg)
Approximate spacecraft mass at ~1.33 kg/U.
Cost per kg ($K/kg)
Total mission cost divided by spacecraft mass.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    CubeSat size (U) = 3, Payload cost ($K) = 100, Launch cost per U ($K) = 60, Mission duration (months) = 12 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Launch
    Launch = cubesatUnits * launchCostPerUK
    180 = 180
  3. Calculate Total mission cost
    Total mission cost = subtotal + programMgmtK
    719.3 = 719.3
  4. Calculate Spacecraft bus
    Spacecraft bus = baseBusCostK * academicDiscount * (1 + (cubesatUnits - 1) * 0.08)
    92.8 = 92.8
  5. Calculate Components
    Components = cubesatUnits * 15 * academicDiscount
    45 = 45

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