WaterCube Propulsion Unit
Capsule Corporation
The WaterCube Propulsion Unit is a compact, modular propulsion system for CubeSats and SmallSats, offering various configurations to provide delta-v for collision avoidance, station-keeping, and de-orbiting.
Typed specifications85 values
Discloses 10 of 11 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Propulsion family
- water datasheet p.2
- Mass
- 900 g Margined Wet Mass, 0.7U · datasheet p.5 1.74 kg Margined Wet Mass, 1.5U | 2 kg Margined Wet Mass, 1.8U | 1.21 kg Margined Wet Mass, 1U | 900 g min · wet +3
- Thrust
- 4 mN datasheet p.4 1–3 mN Average Thrust (pulsed mode) | 1–3 mN pulsed mode average thrust, depending on duty cycle
- Envelope (L×W×H)
- 0.7 - 1.8 U U datasheet p.4
- Specific impulse
- 95.1 s datasheet p.5 95–110 s | 100.8 s | 106.2 s | 110.7 s
- Total impulse
- 183 N·s 0.7U @ 110 s Isp · datasheet p.5 158 N·s 0.7U @ 95 s Isp | 895 N·s 1.5U @ 110 s Isp | 771 N·s 1.5U @ 95 s Isp | 1 129 N·s 1.8U @ 110 s Isp +5
- Propellant
- demineralised water datasheet p.2 water demineralised water
- Supply voltage
- 12 V nom. · 12 V or 28 V power interface · datasheet p.4 12 V or 28 V | 28 V | 28 V nom. · 12 V or 28 V power interface
- Power consumption
- 21 W maximum firing · datasheet p.4 24 W peak (3 minutes) | 6 W pulsed (if used) | 21 W max | 21 W max · power consumption (< 21 W) +1
- Data interface
- CAN datasheet p.4 RS-422
- Lead time
- 3.25 months datasheet p.10 13 months from order, COTS
- Thruster technology
- other water vaporization cell with proprietary heat exchanger and n… · datasheet p.3
- Volume
- 1.8 U max · datasheet p.4 0.7 U min | 0.7 U min | 1.8 U max | 0.7–1.8 U depending on amount of propellant
- Min impulse bit
- 3 mN·s at 4 mN thrust/unit · datasheet p.7 3 mN·s MIB (case study assumption)
- Propellant mass (full load)
- 170 g 0.7U · datasheet p.5 830 g 1.5U | 1.05 kg 1.8U | 430 g 1U
- Power at thrust
- 22.7 W at 100.8 s Isp · datasheet p.5 25.2 W at 106.2 s Isp | 27.6 W at 110.7 s Isp | 20.3 W at 95.1 s Isp | 21 W maximum +4
- Connector
- 1 power connector micro D-sub datasheet p.4 1 signal connector micro D-sub
- Satellite class
- CubeSat 3U, 6U, 12U · datasheet p.7 smallsat 100-500 kg
- Delta-v
- 34.4 m/s 12U, 1.4U · datasheet p.7 78.2 m/s 12U, 1.5U x 2, 21.6 kg wet, @95s Isp (case study) | 44.2 m/s 12U, 2x 1U | 52.4 m/s 16U, 2x 1.6U | 37.7 m/s 3U, 0.7U +6
- Reference spacecraft mass for delta-v
- 21.6 kg 12U case study · datasheet p.7 5.4 kg 3U case study | 10.8 kg 6U case study | 100 kg Smallsat case study
- Indicative price
- 32 EUR datasheet p.11
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 supplier34 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Form factor
- 3U
- Form factor (2)
- 6U
- Form factor (3)
- 12U
- Form factor (4)
- Smallsat
- Watercube propulsion unit volume
- 0.7U (baseline product)
- Watercube propulsion unit volume (2)
- 1.2U (with modular 3D printed tank)
- Watercube propulsion unit volume (3)
- 1.7U (with modular 3D printed tank)
- Watercube propulsion unit volume (4)
- 2x 1.5U clustered
- Watercube propulsion unit volume (5)
- 4x 1.8U clustered
- Propellant mass
- 0.170 kg
- Propellant mass (2)
- 0.610 kg
- Propellant mass (3)
- 1.050 kg
- Propellant mass (4)
- 1.740 kg
- Propellant mass (5)
- 4.200 kg
- Assumed spacecraft wet mass
- 5.5 kg
- Assumed spacecraft wet mass (2)
- 10.8 kg
- Assumed spacecraft wet mass (3)
- 18.0 kg
- Assumed spacecraft wet mass (4)
- 21.6 kg
- Assumed spacecraft wet mass (5)
- 100.0 kg
- Total impulse (Ns)
- 160
- Total impulse (Ns) (2)
- 565
- Total impulse (Ns) (3)
- 1000
- Total impulse (Ns) (4)
- 1620
- Total impulse (Ns) (5)
- 3900
- Total delta v [m/s] @ 95s ISP (4 mN thrust; 3 mNs MIB)
- 29.6 m
- Total delta v [m/s] @ 95s ISP (4 mN thrust; 3 mNs MIB) (2)
- 53.8
- Total delta v [m/s] @ 95s ISP (4 mN thrust; 3 mNs MIB) (3)
- 46.2
- Total delta v [m/s] @ 95s ISP (4 mN thrust; 3 mNs MIB) (4)
- 78.2 (8 mN thrust)
- Total delta v [m/s] @ 95s ISP (4 mN thrust; 3 mNs MIB) (5)
- 39.8 (16 mN thrust)
- Added lifetime (*CAM = Collision Avoidance Maneuvre)
- 1.5 years + 30 CAM
- Added lifetime (*CAM = Collision Avoidance Maneuvre) (2)
- 2.0 years + 30 CAM
- Added lifetime (*CAM = Collision Avoidance Maneuvre) (3)
- 2.0 years + 30 CAM
- Added lifetime (*CAM = Collision Avoidance Maneuvre) (4)
- 2.5 years + 30 CAM + faster de-orbiting
- Added lifetime (*CAM = Collision Avoidance Maneuvre) (5)
- 2.0 years + 30 CAM
About
The WaterCube Propulsion Unit is a series of propulsion systems designed for CubeSats and SmallSats, available in multiple form factors to suit different mission requirements. It utilizes water as a propellant and offers configurations for 3U, 6U, 12U CubeSats, and larger Smallsat platforms. The unit provides significant total impulse and delta-v capabilities, enabling critical maneuvers such as collision avoidance (CAM), station-keeping, and accelerated de-orbiting. The baseline product occupies 0.7U, with modular 3D printed tank options increasing the volume to 1.2U or 1.7U for enhanced propellant capacity. Clustered configurations are also available for larger spacecraft, offering increased thrust and total impulse. The system is designed to extend the operational lifetime of satellites and contribute to cost savings for operators by facilitating responsible space operations.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.