3U CubeSat
Blue Canyon Technologies
The Blue Canyon Technologies 3U CubeSat is a reliable, high-performing, and flight-proven satellite platform, offering a turnkey solution for various space missions.
Technical specifications
- Class
- 3U
- Available payload volume
- 1.5U (typical)
- Pointing accuracy
- ±0.003° (1-sigma), 2 axes, 1 Tracker
- Orbit altitude / orbit lifetime
- LEO (> 5 years), GEO (> 2 years), Deep Space (> 2 years)
- Units launched
- 18
- Units in-work
- 02
- Units delivered
- 02
- Flight heritage
- Proven Heritage
About
The Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) 3U CubeSat, part of their XB line, is a highly accurate and flight-proven satellite platform designed for various space missions. With over 50 CubeSats launched, BCT’s XB line provides a turnkey solution. The platform offers a typical available payload volume of 1.5U and boasts a pointing accuracy of ±0.003° (1-sigma) across two axes, utilizing one tracker. It is designed for operation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for over 5 years, Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) for over 2 years, and Deep Space for over 2 years. The TROPICS mission, which utilized this 3U CubeSat platform, demonstrated that challenging missions can be accomplished with small satellites, resulting in a satellite 50 times smaller and 0.01 percent of the cost of previous weather-sensing systems. The platform has a proven heritage with 18 units launched, 2 units currently in-work, and 2 units delivered. Notable missions include CATCAT (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory) for demonstrating sponsor payload performance in formation flying CubeSats, and CLICK A/B/C (MIT | NASA Ames Research Center) for demonstrating technological advancements in optical communication and full-duplex optical communication crosslink.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.