Known as the “Father of the CubeSat,” Prof. Robert “Bob” Twiggs is an American aerospace engineer, educator, and emeritus Professor of Astronautics and Space Science at Morehead State University. He is best known as the co-inventor, with Jordi Puig-Suari, of the CubeSat reference design, a small satellite standard that helped universities, researchers, companies, and government organizations gain more affordable access to space. Twiggs was also critical in the invention and development of several other educational satellite concepts, including CanSat, PocketQube, and ThinSat. Across his career, Twiggs has focused on hands-on STEM education, using small satellites and related projects to teach students how to design, build, test, and operate real space systems.
The materials gathered include course lectures, space systems engineering presentations, student project materials, mission concepts, technical explanations, outreach resources, historical reflections, and related work by colleagues and collaborators in aerospace engineering and satellite construction. Together, the collection shows how small satellites became not only a new class of spacecraft but also a new way to teach engineering, science, teamwork, systems thinking, and innovation. For students, this collection offers a window into the practical foundations of spacecraft design and mission development. For educators, it provides examples of how complex aerospace concepts can be translated into approachable, project-based learning. For historians of spaceflight, it preserves evidence of the educational movement that helped make small satellites a global phenomenon. For engineers and entrepreneurs, it shows how standards, constraints, and simplicity can unlock new forms of participation in space.
Submissions from 2015
Overview of the Orbital Debris Problem, J. C. Liou
Small Packages can get Big Results, Robert J. Twiggs
Unstandard CubeSat/PocketQube/TubeSat Deployers, Robert J. Twiggs
What is Orbital Debris?, Robert J. Twiggs
Submissions from 2014
Antennas - Loose Slides, Robert J. Twiggs
An Unstandard way of Using the CubeSat Standard, Robert J. Twiggs, Amin Djamshidpour, Steward Davis, and Ben Malphrus
Basic Number Sysyems, Robert J. Twiggs
Commincations - Deicibel, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Link Equations - Loose Slides, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Processing Data, Robert J. Twiggs
Communication Protocols, Robert J. Twiggs
Communications - Decibel, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Using Decibels - Loose Slides, Robert J. Twiggs
Computer Data Busses, Robert J. Twiggs
Context & Overview, Robert J. Twiggs
CubeSats: the Beginning of Amateur Space Exploration, Tim DeBenedictis
Current Developments in Space Infrastructure: Space Horizons 2014, Mason Peck
Data link for Palamede spacecraft based on the Orbcomm constellation as space infrastructure, Franco Bernelli-Zazzera
Development and Operation of the PocketQube T-LogoQube, Kevin Zack
Earth Orbits, Robert J. Twiggs
EPS Power Supply Tech, Jeffrey Kruth
EPS Simulator, Robert J. Twiggs
Galileo, the European Global Navigation Satellite System:Status and Challenges, Marco Lisi
Infrastructure for Planetary Science, Carle M. Pieters
Innovative Uses of the Canisterized Satellite Dispenser (CSD), Robert J. Twiggs, Walter Holemans, Ryan Williams, Andrew Kalman, Rex Ridenoure, Tom Walkinshaw, Ryan Hevner, and Floyd Azure
Overview of EPS, Robert J. Twiggs
PocketQubes: Access to space infrastructure for small organizations, Robert J. Twiggs
PocketQubes: Access to space infrastructure for small organizations, Robert J. Twiggs
Power Storage & Control, Robert J. Twiggs
Power Storage & Control: Review with Questions, Robert J. Twiggs
Quasars and Pulsars and Masers (Oh, my!), Michael Hecht
Spacecraft Thermal Design, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Environment, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Hackathon: Magnitude.io, Robert J. Twiggs
SSE-122 Satellites & Space Systems, Spring 2014, Robert J. Twiggs
The Next Big Thing is Small, Robert J. Twiggs
The PocketQube Concept, Robert J. Twiggs, J. G. Jernigan, L. R. Cominsky, L. R. Malphrus, B. K. Silverman, K. Zack, S. McNeil, W. Roach-Barrett, and T-LogoQube
Understanding Orbits: Chapters 4-9, Robert J. Twiggs
Submissions from 2013
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design, Robert J. Twiggs
Assessment - Introduction to SSE-120: Sataellites & Space Systems I, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Components of Link Equation, Robert J. Twiggs
Communications: Moving Data, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Using Decibels, Robert J. Twiggs
Cosmic Perspective: Where is Space, Robert J. Twiggs
Design Practice, Robert J. Twiggs
Elements of Space Chapter 2: Entering Space & The Age of Rockets, Robert J. Twiggs
Introduction to SSE-120: Sataellites & Space Systems I, Robert J. Twiggs
MECH/ENGR 371 Space Systems Design and Engineering: Introduction to Systems Engineering, Christopher Kitts
Overview of EPS, Robert J. Twiggs
PocketQube - Video 1, Robert J. Twiggs
PocketQube - Video 2, Robert J. Twiggs
Power Sources, Robert J. Twiggs
Power Storage & Control, Robert J. Twiggs
Satellite Orbits An Introduction to Orbital Mechanics, Ben Malphrus
Smaller spacecraft for education and space research, Robert J. Twiggs
Smaller spacecraft for flying large clusters of biological space experiments, Robert J. Twiggs
Spacecraft Payloads, Robert J. Twiggs
Spacecraft Subsystems - Class Presentation, Kevin Brown
Space Environment-I Lecture - PowerPoint Presentation, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Radiation Environment - Space Systems Engineering SSE 120, Fall 2013, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Radiation Environment: SSE 120 by Richard McNeil, Richard McNeil
Space Systems Engineering SSE 120 - Fall 2013 Space Lecture, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Systems Engineering SSE 120 - Space Lecture, Fall 2013, Robert J. Twiggs
Syllabus for Space Systems Engineering 120: Satellites and Space Systems I (Fall 2013), Robert J. Twiggs
Syllabus for Space Systems Engineering 120: Satellites and Space Systems I (Spring 2013), Robert J. Twiggs
Systems Engineering, Robert J. Twiggs
Understanding Orbits Eclipses, Robert J. Twiggs
Understanding Orbits Orbit Facts, Robert J. Twiggs
Understanding Orbits Orbit Perturbations, Robert J. Twiggs
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre
Work Ethics for SSE-122: Satellites & Space Systems (Fall 2013), Robert J. Twiggs
Work Ethics for SSE-122: Satellites & Space Systems (Spring 2013), Robert J. Twiggs
Would I survive in Space?, Robert J. Twiggs
Submissions from 2012
Antennas - Video, Robert J. Twiggs
ARLISS: A Rocket Launch for International Student Satellites - Launch Report for 2011, David Raimondi
Comm-Multiple Access - Slides, Robert J. Twiggs
Comm-Using Decibels - Video, Robert J. Twiggs
CubeSat, Robert J. Twiggs
CubeSat: From the Beginning to Who Knows Where, Robert J. Twiggs
EC 723 Satellite Communication Systems, Mohammed Khedr
Educating Undergraduate Space Science Students with Real Space Missions: NanoSatellite and NanoLab Missions in Kentucky, Robert J. Twiggs
Introduction Video Presentation for Space Systems Engineering 120: Satellites and Space Systems I - Number 1, Robert J. Twiggs
Introduction Video Presentation for Space Systems Engineering 120: Satellites and Space Systems I - Number 2, Robert J. Twiggs
Proposed MSU MatchBookSat for ISS Launch 2014, Robert J. Twiggs
Small-Satellites for Arctic and Maritime Operations and Research, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Environment-II Lecture - PowerPoint Presentation, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Science and Astrophysics Programs, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Science Research and STEM Activities at Morehead State University, Robert J. Twiggs
The US Challenge to Stay the Worlds Technical Leader in Innovation, Robert J. Twiggs
Tiny Satellites for STEM, Carlos G. Niederstrasser
Where did all those Launches come from? Or What can we do now that we have launches?, Robert J. Twiggs
Submissions from 2011
Radiation Effects Basics for 7750, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Environment - A Review, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Environment-III Lecture - PowerPoint Presentation, Robert J. Twiggs
Space Mission Engineering: The New SMAD, James R. Wertz, David F. Everett, and Jeffery J. Puschell
Starting CanSat – Where to Now?, Robert J. Twiggs
The Future of CubeSats: Presentation to the IAA, Ben Malphrus
Submissions from 2010
Citizen Satellites: Tiny, standardized spacecraft are making orbital experiments affordable to even the smallest research groups, Robert J. Twiggs and Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Exomedicine Synthesis Paper, Rita Briggs
Morehead State University Space Science Center: A Vision for the Future, Robert J. Twiggs