Plumis; CubeSat Design Challenge Submission by Connor Tinker

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Plumis is an award-winning CubeSat challenge entry designed by high school junior Connor Tinker and submitted by his father, Richard Tinker, due to age restrictions. The lightest CubeSat structure ever made, Plumis weighs just 84g and offers over 900,000 mm³ of storage space for heavy test equipment. Its modular design with adjustable mounting holes allows for adaptability in various environments, while the use of DMLS or SLS manufacturing processes and three different metal-based material options (two never before used on CubeSats) ensures structural integrity in cryogenic conditions. Capable of withstanding 60G's from rocket motor vibe and up to 150G's with negligible deformations, Plumis features a simple two-part body utilizing stock parts and low-cost materials to maintain value. Developed through collaboration between mechanical and aerospace engineers from The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Google, the name 'Plumis' originates from the Latin word for feathers, reflecting its groundbreaking innovations.