6U CubeSat
Blue Canyon Technologies
The Blue Canyon Technologies 6U CubeSat, part of the XB line, is a reliable, high-performing, and flight-proven satellite platform offering a turnkey solution for various space missions.
Typed specifications42 values
Discloses 2 of 11 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 1).
- Form factor, U (number)
- 6 U datasheet p.1 6 U Class: 6U
- Data interface
- UART datasheet p.2 other 3.3 V In/Out | UART UART (3.3 V, 2.5 V LVDS, RS-422, RS-485) | LVDS UART over 2.5 V LVDS | RS-422 UART over RS-422 +5
- Design lifetime
- 2 years GEO/Lunar/Deep Space · datasheet p.1 5 years LEO | 2 years min · orbit lifetime, GEO/Lunar/Deep Space > 2 years | 5 years min · orbit lifetime, LEO > 5 years
- Form factor
- 6U Class: 6U · datasheet p.1
- Orbit
- LEO datasheet p.1 GEO | lunar | deep space
- Payload volume, U
- 4 U available payload volume (typical) · datasheet p.1
- Regulated voltages for the payload
- 3.3 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… · datasheet p.2 5 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… | 12 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… | 28 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat…
- Onboard storage for payload data
- 4 GB onboard data storage; expandable beyond for 6U, 12U, 16U by a… · datasheet p.2
- Power generation (orbit average)
- 92–108 W solar array power 92 W - 108 W; BOL/EOL and orbit average or … · datasheet p.1
- Attitude control
- 3-axis stabilised pointing accuracy given for 3 axes, 2 trackers · datasheet p.1
- Pointing accuracy
- 0.002 ° ±, 1-sigma, 3 axes, 2 trackers · datasheet p.1
- Propulsion
- optional Multiple electric and chemical propulsion systems available · datasheet p.2
- Payload data downlink rate
- 2 000 kbps S-band, LEO downlink, standard · datasheet p.2 10 000 kbps max · X-band, LEO downlink, up to
- Radio band
- S LEO downlink S-band · datasheet p.2 X LEO downlink X-band
- Subsystems included
- solar arrays 92 W - 108 W · datasheet p.1 battery energy storage 6.8-20.4 Ah | propulsion multiple electric and chemical propulsion systems available | S-band radio S-Band 2 Mbps standard | X-band downlink X-Band up to 10 Mbps
- Satellite class
- CubeSat CubeSat summary · datasheet p.2
- Missions flown
- 46 product page
Each value is typed with its unit and measurement condition and cites the datasheet page it was taken from. Nothing is guessed: a field that is absent here has not been published by the manufacturer. machine-extracted ✓ checked by NewSpace Market ✓ manufacturer confirmed by the manufacturer.
As published by the supplier8 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Class
- 6U
- Available payload volume
- 4U (typical)
- Pointing accuracy
- ±0.002° (1-sigma), 3 axes, 2 Trackers
- Orbit altitude / orbit lifetime
- LEO (> 5 years), GEO (> 2 years), Deep Space (> 2 years)
- Real-world missions
- Proven Heritage
- Units launched
- 46
- Units in-work
- 07
- Units delivered
- 10
About
The Blue Canyon Technologies 6U CubeSat, from their XB line, is a highly accurate, turnkey solution for space missions, boasting over 50 CubeSats launched. It is designed for reliability and high performance. The platform typically offers 4U of available payload volume and achieves a pointing accuracy of ±0.002° (1-sigma) across 3 axes with 2 trackers. It is suitable for various orbital altitudes and lifetimes, including LEO (> 5 years), GEO (> 2 years), and Deep Space (> 2 years). The 6U CubeSat has a proven heritage with 46 units launched, 10 units delivered, and 7 units currently in-work. This agile CubeSat technology is enabling missions like NASA Ames’ Starling, demonstrating autonomous cooperation for future deep space applications, and the SPARCS mission, which will use a 6U CubeSat for ultraviolet astrophysics research, offering a more affordable alternative to larger, more expensive spacecraft like Hubble due to its pointing accuracy and low-jitter reaction wheels. Flight heritage includes missions such as the Agile Microsatellite (AMS) for attitude control in very low Earth orbit, ARCSTONE for lunar spectral reflectance measurements, and CIRCE for measuring the ionosphere and radiation environment in tandem formation.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.