Preliminary Design of a Re-Configurable Transforming 12U CubeSat for Radar Operations

This paper investigates the design and potential mission applications of transforming CubeSats, focusing on a 12U platform capable of reconfiguring or expanding once the spacecraft is deployed in orbit. The motivation stems from the physical constraints imposed by the standardized CubeSat architecture, particularly with respect to internal volume and available surface area. Through the analysis of mission requirements, evaluation of deployable structures, and preliminary structural and power sizing, this paper presents a framework for enhancing CubeSat functionality for radar operations without compromising launch constraints. The investigation indicates that transforming CubeSats can enable a new class of missions requiring larger payloads, more extensive instrumentation, and adaptive geometric configurations, thus overcoming key limitations faced by traditional CubeSat designs.