HARDWARE / PRODUCTAdded 17 Jul 2026

Canisterized Satellite Dispenser (CSD)

Planetary Systems Corp (Rocket Lab)
Canisterized Satellite Dispenser (CSD)

Non-pyrotechnic, fully encapsulated CubeSat/small-satellite dispenser available in 3U, 6U, and 12U sizes with 100% mission success.

Key figurescomparable across the catalogue

Mass
2 kg
Largest dimension
12 mm

Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.

As published by the supplier

Sizes available
3U, 6U, 12U
Mass capability
~2 kg per U
Deployment mechanism
Non-pyrotechnic, fully encapsulated canister
Mounting
Array of mount points, mountable to any face
Flight heritage
100% mission success across flight history
Mass
3.32 kg
Height
157.15 mm
Width
134.24 mm
X-Axis Mass Moment of Inertia
0.067 kg*m2
Y-Axis Mass Moment of Inertia
0.065 kg*m2
Z-Axis Mass Moment of Inertia
0.018 kg*m2
Door's X-Axis Mass Moment of Inertia
6.7E-4 kg*m2
Quantity of Ejection Springs
1

About

The Canisterized Satellite Dispenser (CSD) is Planetary Systems Corporation’s reliable, testable, and cost-effective deployment mechanism for small secondary and tertiary satellite payloads. Unlike open rail-style deployers, the CSD fully encapsulates the payload during launch, providing privacy and mission assurance for both the primary payload and the launch vehicle. It is easy to load, integrate, and operate, requires no consumables, and allows the payload to be stowed, ejected, and re-stowed in seconds during integration and testing. The CSD offers the largest internal volume in its class, leaving more room for solar panels and other deployables, and its array of mount points allows mounting to any face, reducing interface structure mass and enabling dense payload packaging on the launch vehicle. It is available in 3U, 6U, and 12U sizes with roughly 2 kg-per-U mass capability, and has been used to deploy CubeSats including the POPACS mission.

Documentation

Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.

Source: web.archive.org ↗

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