Miniaturized warm-gas resistojet propulsion system for CubeSats with integrated main thruster and 3-axis ACS.
CHIPS — CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System
Miniaturized warm-gas resistojet propulsion system for CubeSats with integrated main thruster and 3-axis ACS.
Description
CU Aerospace's CHIPS (CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System) is a miniaturized, well-integrated propulsion solution for small satellites, combining a main thruster and a three-axis attitude control system (ACS). Utilizing CUA's high-efficiency resistojet (superheater) technology with non-toxic, inert propellants (R134a refrigerant, R236fa), CHIPS provides a specific impulse 40–50% higher than cold-gas systems in a compact, low-risk package. The all-welded CHIPS-180 variant is an ultra-compact 0.54U fully throttleable system with 180 N-s of total impulse. Waste heat from the electronics and resistojet is regeneratively recovered to evaporate propellant, resulting in less than 1°C system temperature rise over ten-minute operating cycles. Proven valving has been cycled to greater than 120 million actuations. The ACS can be expanded to full 6 degrees of freedom with up to eight ACS thrusters. CHIPS can be customized in size and can also be packaged as a cold-gas-only system for reduced power requirements.
Specifications
| Thruster type | Warm-gas resistojet (superheater) |
|---|---|
| Specific impulse (Isp) | 40–50% higher than cold-gas Isp |
| Total impulse (CHIPS-180) | 180 N-s |
| Package size (without ACS) | As small as 0.3U |
| Package size (with ACS) | As small as 0.6U |
| Propellants | R134a (refrigerant), R236fa (range safety approved); non-toxic, inert, self-pressurizing |
| Acs | Up to 8 ACS thrusters, 6 DOF |
| Valve cycles | >120 million actuations proven |
| Compatible platforms | 3U or larger CubeSats |
