Integrated Propulsion System (IPS)
VACCO Industries
VACCO's Integrated Propulsion System (IPS) is a complete, bolt-on propulsion module for SmallSats, providing attitude control and delta-V with a total impulse of 12,000 N-sec.
Typed specifications43 values
Discloses 6 of 11 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Propulsion family
- chemical datasheet p.1
- Mass
- 9 kg dry · datasheet p.1 14.7 kg wet | 14.7 kg wet mass
- Thrust
- 1 000 mN per thruster · datasheet p.1 3 970 mN throttlable max net axial | 1 000 mN throttlable min | 1 000–3 970 mN net axial thrust, throttlable
- Total impulse
- 12 000 N·s datasheet p.1
- Propellant
- LMP-103S datasheet p.1
- Supply voltage
- 28 V nom. · Arm Input Power · datasheet p.1 24–32 V Arm Input Power | 12–12.3 V Safe Power Input | 28 V nom. · Arm input, 28 ±4V | 12 V nom. · Safe Power Input +1
- Power consumption
- 50 W Arm Input Power max · datasheet p.1 1 W communication and health monitoring | 50 W peak power | 24 W Safe Power Input max | 50 W max · Arm input power / peak +2
- Data interface
- RS-422 datasheet p.1
- Operating temperature
- 10 °C min · datasheet p.1 40 °C max | 10–40 °C
- Thruster technology
- monopropellant green (ADN or HAN) 1N LMP-103S green monopropellant thrusters · datasheet p.1
- Thrusters in the unit
- 4 datasheet p.1
- Feed / tank pressure
- 63.4 bar MDP (920 psia) · datasheet p.1 22 bar MEOP | 22 bar MEOP (320 psia)
- Power at thrust
- 50 W peak power · datasheet p.1
- Survival temperature
- -34 °C min · datasheet p.1 40 °C max | -34–40 °C non-operating
- Flight heritage
- 1N thrusters first launched in 2010; fifty six of these 1N thrusters have been successfully flown datasheet p.1
- Satellite class
- CubeSat datasheet p.1
- Missions flown
- 2 datasheet p.1 56 1N thrusters successfully flown (first launched 2010)
- Power processing unit included
- yes datasheet p.1
- Dry mass
- 9 kg datasheet p.1
- Thrust vector control
- multi-thruster differential individual thrusters off-pulsed for thrust vector control · datasheet p.1
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
- Total impulse
- 12,000 N-sec
- Thruster type
- 1 N LMP-103S green monopropellant thrusters
- Number of thrusters
- Four
- Net axial thrust
- 3.97 N
- Thruster flight heritage
- 56 units successfully flown since 2010
- Communication and health monitoring power
- <1 W
- Peak power
- 50 W
- Performance density
- 1,079 N-sec/L
About
VACCO’s Integrated Propulsion System (IPS) is a highly reliable, intelligent, and complete propulsion solution designed for SmallSats. It offers both attitude control and delta-V capabilities, delivering a total impulse of 12,000 N-sec. The IPS is a bolt-on module that includes propellant storage, a feed system, thrusters, and a controller. Its components and manufacturing methods are based on 57 years of space experience, including propulsion systems that powered the successful Mars Cube One (MarCO) CubeSats. The system features four flight-proven 1N LMP-103S green monopropellant thrusters, double-canted for a net axial thrust of 3.97N. These 1N thrusters have a strong flight heritage, with 56 units successfully flown since 2010. During delta-V operations, individual thrusters can be off-pulsed to achieve thrust vector control, roll control, or reaction wheel desaturation. The design allows for expansion of propellant and pressurant capacity to increase total impulse with minimal impact on the overall system. Flight systems are currently in production. Key features include Range Safety Friendly design, three interrupts against propellant leakage, a leak-before-burst pressure boundary, separate power inputs for “Safe” and “Arm” states, an integral microcontroller with RS422 digital interface, radiation-resistant components with integral shielding, robust and sophisticated flight-proven software, redundant electronic pressure regulators, low power consumption (<1W for communication and health monitoring), 50W peak power, frictionless high-reliability micro valves, an all-welded high-strength titanium alloy structure, and fully manifolded components (no tubing).
Documentation
- Integrated-Propulsion-System-datasheet-020921.pdf PDF source: cubesat-propulsion.com ↗
- Integrated-Propulsion-System-datasheet-080519.pdf PDF source: cubesat-propulsion.com ↗
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