12U CubeSat
Blue Canyon Technologies
The Blue Canyon Technologies 12U CubeSat is a reliable, high-performing, and flight-proven satellite bus from the XB line, offering a turnkey solution for various space missions.
Typed specifications31 values
Discloses 4 of 7 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Power consumption
- 92 W product page
- Data interface
- SpaceWire datasheet p.2 other 3.3 V In/Out | UART UART (3.3 V, 2.5 V LVDS, RS-422, RS-485) | LVDS UART over 2.5 V LVDS | RS-422 UART over RS-422 +1
- Design lifetime
- 2 years min · orbit lifetime, GEO/Lunar/Deep Space > 2 years · datasheet p.1 5 years min · orbit lifetime, LEO > 5 years
- Form factor
- 12U Class: 12U · datasheet p.1
- Orbit
- LEO datasheet p.1 GEO | lunar | deep space
- Payload volume, U
- 8 U available payload volume (typical) · datasheet p.1
- Regulated voltages for the payload
- 3.3 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… · datasheet p.2 5 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… | 12 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat… | 28 V payload power voltage (available in 6U, 12U and 16U); regulat…
- Onboard storage for payload data
- 4 GB onboard data storage; expandable beyond for 6U, 12U, 16U by a… · datasheet p.2
- Power generation (orbit average)
- 92–108 W solar array power 92 W - 108 W; BOL/EOL and orbit average or … · datasheet p.1
- Attitude control
- 3-axis stabilised pointing accuracy given for 3 axes, 2 trackers · datasheet p.1
- Pointing accuracy
- 0.002 ° ±, 1-sigma, 3 axes, 2 trackers · datasheet p.1
- Propulsion
- optional Multiple electric and chemical propulsion systems available · datasheet p.2
- Payload data downlink rate
- 2 000 kbps S-band, LEO downlink, standard · datasheet p.2 10 000 kbps max · X-band, LEO downlink, up to
- Radio band
- S LEO downlink S-band · datasheet p.2 X LEO downlink X-band
- Satellite class
- CubeSat CubeSat summary · datasheet p.2
- Missions flown
- 3 product page
- Form factor, U (number)
- 12 U Class: 12U · 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 supplier15 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Class
- 12U
- Available payload volume
- 8U (typical)
- Pointing accuracy
- ±0.002° (1-sigma), 3 axes, 2 Trackers
- Orbit altitude / orbit lifetime
- LEO (> 5 years), GEO (> 2 years), Deep Space (> 2 years)
- Real-world missions
- Proven Heritage
- Units launched
- 03
- Energy storage
- 6.8 – 20.4 Ah
- Solar array power
- 92 W - 108 W
- Pointing stability
- 1 arc-sec over 1 sec
- Agility
- > 5 deg/sec
- Orbit knowledge
- 10m, 0.15 m/s (1-sigma)
- Data interfaces
- UART (3.3 V, 2.5 V LVDS, RS-422, RS-485), SpaceWire, 3.3 V In/Out
- LEO uplink
- Nominal 100 Kbps
- LEO downlink
- S-Band 2 Mbps standard
- LEO downlink (2)
- X-Band up to 10 Mbps
About
The Blue Canyon Technologies 12U CubeSat is part of the XB line of CubeSats, which boasts over 50 launched units. It is designed to be a reliable, high-performing, and flight-proven platform, providing a highly accurate, turnkey solution for various space missions. The platform offers a typical available payload volume of 8U. It features a pointing accuracy of ±0.002° (1-sigma) across 3 axes with 2 trackers. The 12U CubeSat is designed for long-duration missions, with an orbit lifetime of over 5 years in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), over 2 years in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), and over 2 years in Deep Space. The product has a proven heritage with real-world missions. One notable mission is ASCENT for the Air Force Research Laboratory, where a Blue Canyon XB12 CubeSat bus successfully demonstrated a small satellite in Geostationary orbit, including cold-gas thrusters, electric propulsion, and a commercial-off-the-shelf global positioning system receiver. Another mission, SLINGSHOT for The Aerospace Corporation, utilized an XB12 CubeSat bus to carry 19 payloads to low-Earth orbit, demonstrating the accessibility of integrating numerous payloads into a single interface. Blue Canyon Technologies also provided mission operations for the SLINGSHOT mission.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.