VACCO CubeSat Propulsion and ChEMS Flow Control Modules
VACCO Industries
Patented ChEMS titanium micro-manifold modules integrating valves, filters, sensors and thrusters into compact CubeSat/SmallSat propulsion feed systems.
Typed specifications14 values
Discloses 3 of 10 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Mass
- 1.6 kg max · datasheet p.1
- Propellant
- xenon datasheet p.1
- Supply voltage
- 0–130 V product page 24–33 V iso valve voltage | 24–33 V
- Operating temperature
- 0 °C product page 0–70 °C
- TRL
- 6 NASA Technology Readiness Level · datasheet p.3
- Feed / tank pressure
- 310.26 bar product page 0.689–206.84 bar inlet pressure range | 517.11 bar | 0–4.83 bar | 0–5 bar
- Flight heritage
- JPL MarCO (first CubeSats to Mars), NEA Scout, CuSP, AFRL PUC 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 supplier21 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Technology
- ChEMS — Chemically Etched Micro Systems (patent #6,334,301), titanium micro-manifolds
- Filtration range
- 2 to 100 microns absolute
- Sensor range
- 20 to 3,000 psia
- Integrated elements
- Valves (NC, latch, proportional), filters, sensors, cold/warm-gas thrusters, heaters, electronic controllers
- Flight heritage
- JPL MarCO (first CubeSats to Mars), NEA Scout, CuSP, AFRL PUC
- Mass
- <1.6 Kg
- Operating temperature
- 0°C to +70°C
- Flow Range
- 3 to 160 sccm Xenon
- Accuracy
- +/-1%
- Inlet Pressure Range
- 3000 to 10 psia
- Proof Pressure
- 4500 psia
- Burst Pressure
- 7500 psia
- Outlet Pressure Set Point Range
- 0 to 70 psia
- Internal Leakage
- <1 x 10-3 sccs GHe
- External Leakage
- <1 x 10-6 sccs GHe
- Proportional Valve Voltage Control Mode
- 0 to 130 vdc
- Proportional Valve Current Control Mode
- 0 to 130 MA
- Iso Valve Voltage
- 24 to 33 vdc
- Iso Valve Response
- 50 mSec max
- Pressure Transducer Output
- 0 to 5 vdc
- Pressure Transducer Accuracy
- +/-0.5% full scale
About
VACCO’s Chemically Etched Micro Systems (ChEMS, patent #6,334,301) technology produces highly integrated fluid control systems using titanium micro-manifolds, combining robust construction, compact size and low mass ideal for space applications such as electric propulsion feed systems, micro-propulsion systems, and electronic pressure regulators. ChEMS modules combine integral electronic controllers (with custom or bus interfaces such as RS-422), filters from 2 to 100 microns absolute, pressure/temperature sensors from 20 to 3,000 psia, high- and low-pressure normally-closed and latch valves, proportional control valves, flow resistors, cold- and warm-gas thrusters, and heaters. VACCO’s Xenon Flow Control Module (XFCM), a ChEMS variant qualified for NASA, is a fully independent electric-propulsion feed subsystem. VACCO CubeSat propulsion systems include the JPL MarCO cold-gas micro-propulsion system (the first CubeSats to fly to Mars alongside NASA InSight), NEA Scout and CuSP cold-gas systems, the AFRL Propulsion Unit for CubeSats (PUC, warm gas), a green monopropellant propulsion system, and a Redundant SmallSat Propulsion Controller.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.