Editing CubeSat (section)

===Costs===
CubeSat forms a cost-effective independent means of getting a payload into orbit.<ref name="tiny"/> After delays from low-cost launchers such as [[Interorbital Systems]],<ref>As noted in the linked article, Interorbital promised its Neptune 45 – intended to carry ten CubeSats, among other cargo – would launch in 2011, but as of 2014 it had yet to do so.</ref> launch prices have been about $100,000 per unit,<ref>{{cite web | title = OSSI-1 Amateur Radio CubeSat launched | url = http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2013/ossi_1_amateur_radio_cubesat_launched.htm | year = 2013 | publisher = Southgate Amateur Radio News | access-date = 2014-07-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104046/http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2013/ossi_1_amateur_radio_cubesat_launched.htm | archive-date = 2015-09-24 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Commercial Space Launch Schedule and Pricing|url = http://www.spaceflightindustries.com/schedule-pricing/|website = Spaceflight|access-date = 2015-10-18|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151016001943/http://www.spaceflightindustries.com/schedule-pricing/|archive-date = 2015-10-16}}</ref> but newer operators are offering lower  pricing.<ref>[https://rocketlabusa.com/space-is-open-for-business-online/ "Space Is Open For Business, Online"], rocketlabusa.com</ref> A typical price to launch a 1U cubesat with a full service contract (including end-to-end integration, licensing, transportation etc.) was about $60,000 in 2021.

Some CubeSats have complicated components or instruments, such as [[LightSail-1]], that push their construction cost into the millions of dollars,<ref>{{Cite web| title = After letdown, solar-sail project rises again| url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33812469/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.ViPAwitRKVI| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095341/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33812469/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.ViPAwitRKVI| url-status = dead| archive-date = May 18, 2015| website = msnbc.com| access-date = 2015-10-18| date = 2009-11-10}}</ref> but a basic 1U CubeSat can cost about $50,000 to construct.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Cubesats explained and why you should build one| url = http://www.diyspaceexploration.com/what-are-cubesats/| website = DIY Space Exploration| access-date = 2015-10-18| url-status = usurped| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151013051317/http://www.diyspaceexploration.com/what-are-cubesats| archive-date = 2015-10-13}}</ref> This makes CubeSats a viable option for some schools, universities, and small businesses.