The Future of CubeSat Propulsion Is Here – Are You Keeping Up?

water propulsion

The satellite industry has experienced historic growth over the last few years. This is particularly evident in the small satellite sector. CubeSats or smaller satellites are cost-effective and versatile. They have become a vital instrument in space exploration, communications, and research, with innovations like water propulsion contributing to their development.

One of the keys to a mission success is selecting the right propulsion system. Choosing a suitable thruster can be difficult, yet it is essential for any mission or service that necessitates in-space maneuvering and control. While the market provides multiple CubeSat propulsion systems, including water propulsion, it is crucial to know how to evaluate them.

Performance, safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability are among the most important factors to consider in propulsion design.

Precise Control and Reliability

Water propulsion offers enhanced maneuverability, enabling precise orbit adjustments and facilitating complex mission profiles. It provides the capability to adjust thrust levels for accurate maneuvers, crucial for missions that need exact positioning and alignment. Moreover, this type of space propulsion system is relatively simple to design and operate. The technology is streamlined because it doesn’t require complex chemical reactions, thus minimizing the likelihood of technical failures.

Safety and Non-Toxicity

Water is one of the promising propellants because it is non-toxic and non-combustible. Thus, water propulsion eliminates the need for high-pressure gas systems. It is readily available, easy to handle and store, as well as poses few risks to both the spacecraft and the personnel engaged in mission preparation. On top of that, a water propulsion system may expedite the time required for safety evaluations.

Cost-effectiveness

Water as a propellant allows for the alignment of budget limitations with optimal performance while maintaining quality standards. It is an accessible resource that has a much lower price than numerous conventional chemical propellants. The water propulsion system is suitable for missions with limited funding.

Sustainability

Water propulsion is eco-friendly since it generates only water vapor, which is harmless to the space environment. This feature is in perfect alignment with a trend on sustainable space exploration and reducing the generation of space debris. Water vapor presents no danger to other spacecraft or orbital environments.

SteamJet engineered reliable and efficient space thrusters with optimal performance. Their simple design allows for customization to meet various mission requirements and does not cause any RF or magnetic interference.

More technical information regarding the thrusters is available on our website. This includes specifications, performance data, and recent test results. Steam TunaCan Thruster and Steam Thruster One. Discover how SteamJet innovations are shaping the future of sustainable satellite propulsion.

Space Sustainability: Responsible Exploration and Innovation

Today, the space sector is advancing rapidly. The number of launches and satellites in orbit is increasing. This creates fresh opportunities for commerce, research, and environmental monitoring. However, this growth also brings sustainability challenges, both on our planet and in outer space. One of the issues is a growing amount of orbital debris being generated, which highlights the importance of CubeSat propulsion in mitigating this challenge.

Orbital Debris Challenge

Space exploration is becoming more attainable for entrepreneurs and innovators. With the expansion of satellite constellations in both quantity and scale, numerous new items are being introduced into low Earth orbit—not only satellites but also space debris. This debris typically includes non-functional satellites and abandoned rocket stages, raising worries about orbital overcrowding and long-term viability.

The debris poses a threat of collision events and may ultimately hinder or render it unfeasible for satellites to function properly in the low Earth orbits utilized for scientific purposes and communications.

Commitment to Sustainable CubeSat Propulsion

At SteamJet, we believe the future depends on making responsible choices and exploring the stars without leaving unnecessary marks. Our commitment is to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly propellants to reduce the effect on space environments.

SteamJet propulsion systems function solely in the space environment and pose no threat to the Earth’s atmosphere. They don’t contain hazardous or flammable materials that require special care when being installed on a satellite. Our engines activate solely in space, and unlike various other satellite types, they can be deployed from a spacecraft or space station – their launch and functioning pose no risk to the crew.

CubeSat propulsion systems powered with water transform the modern approach to satellite mobility and sustainability. They offer safe, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions to enable precise orbit adjustments, maintain satellite positioning, support constellation coordination, and ensure end-of-life de-orbiting.

More technical information regarding the thrusters is available on our website. This includes specifications, performance data, and recent test results. Steam TunaCan Thruster and Steam Thruster One. Discover how SteamJet innovations are shaping the future of sustainable satellite propulsion.