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.
Technical specifications
- 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
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