CubeSat is a slight misnomer: the unit actually measures 10cm by 10cm by 11.35cm. CubeSats can be several units big, but are still about the size of a shoebox, and weigh kilograms rather than tonnes.

Cubesats have grown up a great deal since 1999, when they were first developed for academic use. Skip to main content. ... "People are talking about 6U's and 12U's and 24U's and 27U's.

A single NLAS provides the capability to deploy 24U of Cubesats. The system is designed to accommodate satellites measuring 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U and 6U sizes for deployment into orbit.

NASA has developed a new payload adapter for the Block 1B version of the SLS with the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage. That adapter, called the Nest, will have 15 payload mounting locations ...

A similar - and quite true - story can be told about the new poster child of the space industry, the CubeSat. Its dimensions were determined by the size of a Beanie Baby.