SteamJet Space at SmallSat 2026 in Salt Lake City

SteamJet Space at SmallSat 2026 in Salt Lake City
SteamJet Space at SmallSat 2026 in Salt Lake City

SteamJet Space is pleased to announce our participation in the SmallSat 2026 Conference, taking place on 23–26 August 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit us at Booth 22 to meet our team and discover how our propulsion technology is shaping the future of small satellite missions.

Satellite Propulsion Technology at SmallSat 2026

At SmallSat 2026, our team will present water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and small satellite constellations. Our technology enables satellite operators to:

  • deploy and maintain constellations effectively
  • perform precise manoeuvres and orbit control
  • extend operational lifetime through reliable station-keeping
  • ensure safe and responsible end-of-life deorbiting

We are looking forward to expanding our professional network, meeting satellite manufacturers, integrators and mission planners, and discussing how SteamJet propulsion can support upcoming missions.

If you are planning to attend SmallSat 2026, we invite you to connect with the SteamJet Space team at Booth 22. Our experts will be available to discuss propulsion system capabilities, manoeuvring solutions and potential collaboration opportunities.

Event: SmallSat 2026 Conference
Date: 23–26 August 2026
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Booth: 22

You are welcome to connect with the SteamJet Space team in advance for more information or to arrange a meeting during the conference.

About SteamJet Space Systems

SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialise in water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), prioritising operational safety and rapid launch integration. 

By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) manoeuvres — including orbital maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting — without the risks associated with toxic hydrazine or high-pressure cold gas systems, advancing green propulsion for space missions.

Steamjet Propulsion Technology

Our modular systems are engineered for seamless integration and maximum safety compliance:

Steamjet TunaCan Thruster: A compact, high-efficiency solution for 1U-3U CubeSats.

Steamjet TunaTank Thruster: A safe, high-performance electrothermal propulsion system.

Steamjet Thruster One: Scalable propulsion for larger SmallSat constellations.

Discover how SteamJet’s sustainable space propulsion innovations are providing the safety and reliability required for the next generation of crewed and robotic missions. Contact our engineering team for technical specifications and ICDs.

Why CubeSat Mobility is Crucial for Constellation Deployment

CubeSat mobility for LEO constellation deployment and collision avoidance

By 2030, CubeSat mobility will become increasingly important as more than 25,000 satellites operate in low Earth orbit. A big part of them will be CubeSats in commercial constellations. They are used for communications, remote sensing, IoT, and navigation supplements. Meanwhile, at the popular altitudes of 500–600 km, satellite density will increase severalfold. According to an ESA report, the number of dangerous close encounters will rise by an order of magnitude.

As a result, a fundamental question arises. Is the current CubeSat architecture capable of operating in such an environment? Without built-in mobility, it seems impossible. At this rate, it is becoming an engineering requirement for staying in orbit.

LEO in 2030: The Numbers Behind the Need for CubeSat Mobility

According to the AEI Space Data Navigator, there are currently about 16,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit. The Novaspace’s Prospects for the Small Satellite Market report forecasts that operators will launch 16,900 small satellites weighing under 500 kg between 2026 and 2035.

In particular, the main increase is occurring at altitudes of 500–600 km. That’s where the majority of commercial spacecraft are already concentrated. Over the past five years, the density of objects at these altitudes has increased severalfold and will continue to rise.

Furthermore, the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office and ESA have observed a steady increase in the number of hazardous close encounters. The number of avoidance manoeuvres has increased significantly over the past three years, among operators of large constellations alone. According to the ESA Space Debris Office, there are currently more than 50,000 objects larger than 10 cm in orbit.

Finally, Bryce Tech Smallsats by the Numbers 2026 states that the majority of launches in LEO are small satellites weighing up to 600 kg. Furthermore, CubeSats remain the primary payload for commercial rideshare missions.

Physical Constraints: Why Static CubeSats No Longer Work

So, what do all these numbers mean in practice for CubeSat mobility?

  • The window for safe separation after a rideshare launch is getting narrower. When launch providers deploy satellites, each one of them has very little time and space to separate from its neighbours without collision risk.
  • Operators perform evasive manoeuvres more frequently. The density of objects in low Earth orbit is increasing. As a result, operators must respond to proximity warnings almost every day.
  • The atmosphere drags satellites down fast. In low Earth orbit, a satellite gradually descends. If it does not have a thruster to raise its orbit back up, its operational lifespan is significantly reduced.
  • It is no longer possible to just wait for the satellites to drift apart on their own. Commercial customers demand that the constellation be brought online quickly, and natural drift takes too long.

Therefore, a satellite without a propulsion system simply remains on the trajectory created by its launch vehicle and survives only as long as atmospheric drag allows. Today, this automatically places it outside the commercial market. The customer needs a managed asset, not a one-time shipment.

Regulatory Restrictions: CubeSat Mobility is a Ticket to Orbit

Meanwhile, regulators around the world are making the rules stricter. The FCC has reduced the allowed timeframe for a satellite to deorbit from 25 to 5 years after the end of its mission. An increasing number of jurisdictions are refusing to license spacecraft incapable of autonomously changing their orbit. On top of that, the ESA and national regulators are promoting uniform Space Traffic Management rules. According to new regulations, the ability to avoid collisions will be a key parameter, and operators will have to provide documentary evidence of this capability even before launch.

Consequently, in a few years, CubeSat mobility will cease to be a competitive advantage and will become a prerequisite for access to orbit. A satellite without a propulsion system simply won’t be granted a launch license.

By the end of the decade, there simply won’t be any room in the orbital environment or in regulatory requirements for CubeSats without their own propulsion. For this reason, constellation operators designing missions today must incorporate propulsion into their architectures from the beginning. It will be too late and too expensive to try to add a propulsion system to a finished satellite later.

For this reason, a water-based propulsion system for CubeSats is a solution that fully meets the safety requirements for rideshare launches and ensures the satellites’ mobility throughout their entire lifecycle.

About SteamJet Space Systems

SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialise in water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), prioritising operational safety and rapid launch integration. 

By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) manoeuvres — including orbital maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting — without the risks associated with toxic hydrazine or high-pressure cold gas systems, advancing green propulsion for space missions.

Steamjet Propulsion Technology

Our modular systems are engineered for seamless integration and maximum safety compliance:

Steamjet TunaCan Thruster: A compact, high-efficiency solution for 1U-3U CubeSats.

Steamjet TunaTank Thruster: A safe, high-performance electrothermal propulsion system.

Steamjet Thruster One: Scalable propulsion for larger SmallSat constellations.

Discover how SteamJet’s sustainable space propulsion innovations are providing the safety and reliability required for the next generation of crewed and robotic missions. Contact our engineering team for technical specifications and ICDs.

Water-Based Cubesat Propulsion: Why Safe Propellants Are the Future of LEO

Water-based CubeSat propulsion system for safe LEO missions

In recent times, many presentations on CubeSat propulsion have promised us a “green future”. At conferences, in white papers, and in promotional materials people talk about safe propellants, a sustainable space industry, and a new era of small satellites. However, when analysing the actual choice of CubeSat mission operators the picture is different. The market continues to choose between hydrazine, cold gas, and electric propulsion. On top of that, the main metrics continue to be specific impulse and flight heritage. “Green propulsion” stays on the slides, while decisions are made according to the familiar rules.

The main issue is that the industry talks about safe propellants on paper, but not in real-life business terms. A mission manager selecting a propulsion system faces various challenges. Namely, delays due to the coordination of hazmat procedures, refusals from rideshare providers, and ITAR restrictions when working with international partners. These costs determine whether a mission will launch on schedule or be delayed.

“Safe” isn’t just a fancy label. It means the absence of operational and regulatory risks all the way from the lab to orbit. And water-based propulsion is the only thruster that remains safe from ground operations to the final deorbiting manoeuvre.

What Does "Green" Actually Mean for CubeSat Propulsion

The term “green propulsion” emerged as a response to a real problem, the toxicity of hydrazine and everything associated with it. The idea was to find a propellant that is easier and safer to work with. But over the past ten years, marketing has overtaken engineering. Today, the word “green” is slapped on almost anything that isn’t hydrazine. Thus, the word has effectively lost its meaning.

Yet, when analyzing actual choices made by CubeSat mission operators, a stark disconnect emerges: the market remains dominated by toxic monopropellants (like hydrazine), high-pressure cold gas, and electric propulsion (EP). Decisions continue to be driven strictly by flight heritage, total impulse Delta V, and specific impulse Isp. “Green propulsion” stays on marketing slides, while mission architecture decisions follow legacy playbooks.

The root issue is that the space industry defines “green” as a chemical property rather than an operational and financial reality.

A Mission Manager selecting a propulsion system isn’t just buying performance specs—they are managing launch delays, hazardous material (Hazmat) procedures, rideshare dispenser restrictions, and ITAR/export compliance. True safety isn’t a buzzword; it is the absolute elimination of regulatory, launch, and integration risks from the lab bench to orbital de-orbiting. Water-based electrothermal propulsion is one of the few architectures that delivers on all six operational fronts. 

The "Greenwashing" Problem in Space Propulsion

The concept of “green propulsion” arose to solve a critical operational bottleneck: the extreme toxicity, complex handling, and expensive SCAPE (Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble) suit requirements of hydrazine.

Over the past decade, however, marketing has overtaken systems engineering. Today, the label “green” is applied to almost any non-hydrazine system:

Energetic Monopropellant Blends

(e.g., ADN/HAN-based): Marketed as “less toxic,” yet still requiring high decomposition temperatures, energetic materials handling, elevated material compatibility testing, and complex thermal pre-heating.

Electric Propulsion (EP)

Non-toxic in storage, but introduces high power conditioning unit (PCU) overhead, complex EMC/EMI testing, high peak power draws, and extended low-thrust burn durations that complicate mission timelines.

Inert Cold Gas

Safe, but severely limited by low specific impulse (Isp) and heavy high-pressure storage tanks that introduce pressure vessel safety reviews (e.g., Range Safety pressure limits).

For a Systems Engineer, a “green” label on a spec sheet guarantees nothing about launch integration complexity. Mission success depends on launch provider sign-offs, range safety approval, integration time, and regulatory clearance.

What Actually Delays the CubeSat Mission

When selecting a CubeSat propulsion system, the discussion most often boils down to two parameters: specific impulse and unit cost. In practice, however, delays and budget overruns arise from entirely different sources. Namely, coordination efforts, ground operations, restrictions imposed by the launch provider, and regulatory procedures. These costs rarely appear in comparison tables, but they are precisely what determine the actual timeline and cost of a mission.

Hazmat approvals and ground operations

Handling toxic propellant requires specially equipped facilities, trained personnel, and specific transportation protocols. Fueling at the launch site requires a separate approval process. All of this takes weeks and costs tens of thousands of dollars, expenses that are not included in the engine’s specifications.

Rideshare rejections and placement restrictions

Launch providers are taking an increasingly strict stance on hazardous propellants. A satellite may be denied a preferred launch, placed into a less favourable orbit, or required to be isolated from neighbouring payloads. For CubeSats, this results in a direct mission delay.

Export Control & ITAR Bottlenecks

Thrusters bound by strict export controls limit international supply chains, restrict overseas testing, and introduce multi-month licensing delays for global constellation operators.

Thermal & Structural Qualification Overhead

Toxic or energetic systems demand extensive material compatibility testing and complex thermal management systems, lengthening the qualification loop.

It is precisely these costs that determine the true value of a propulsion system. From this standpoint, hydrazine, “green monopropellants,” and some cold-gas solutions have the same disadvantage of extra costs.

What “Safe” Actually Means for CubeSat Propulsion

In the industry, the word “safe” usually comes down to chemistry. Whether a propellant is toxic or not, or whether it’s explosive or not. This is important, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Chemical safety is a necessary condition, but it alone isn’t enough to ensure that a mission stays on schedule and within budget without any surprises.

When breaking down the concept of “safe” into actual processes that a mission manager deals with, a very different picture emerges. For a CubeSat propulsion system to be truly safe, it must meet six operational requirements:

  • Safe to handle — requires no additional training for personnel, no special facilities, and no separate transportation protocols.
  • Safe to integrate — compatible with standard satellite materials and standard assembly procedures, with no exceptions or additional testing required.
  • Safe to launch — poses no issues for adjacent payloads and is accepted by launch providers without restrictions on rideshare placement.
  • Safe to license — not subject to ITAR or other export restrictions, which is critical for international teams.
  • Safe to schedule — does not entail lengthy regulatory reviews and does not delay the mission schedule by quarters.
  • Safe to operate — requires no special precautions in orbit and poses no risks to other spacecraft.

It is within this framework that safety ceases to be a chemical characteristic and becomes an operational and financial metric. It directly affects the schedule, the budget, and the likelihood that the mission will take place as planned at all.

A water-based CubeSat propulsion system is one of those rare cases where all six levels of safety can be addressed simultaneously.

About SteamJet Space Systems

SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialise in water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), prioritising operational safety and rapid launch integration. 

By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) manoeuvres — including orbital maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting — without the risks associated with toxic hydrazine or high-pressure cold gas systems, advancing green propulsion for space missions.

Steamjet Propulsion Technology

Our modular systems are engineered for seamless integration and maximum safety compliance:

Discover how SteamJet’s sustainable space propulsion innovations are providing the safety and reliability required for the next generation of crewed and robotic missions. Contact our engineering team for technical specifications and ICDs.

Demystifying Orbital Mobility: The Key to Sustainable Space Infrastructure

Orbital mobility enables CubeSat collision avoidance and sustainable space operations

Today, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) density has reached a tipping point where orbital mobility is no longer an optional feature – it is a critical driver of mission viability, launch availability, and lifecycle cost. With thousands of operational assets creating daily conjunction risks, a static spacecraft introduces unacceptable operational and financial liabilities.

As a result, active orbital mobility – the ability to perform controlled maneuvers throughout a spacecraft’s operational life – transforms a passive payload into an adaptable, resilient asset.

Why Orbital Mobility Is a Baseline Engineering Requirement

Propulsion integration is now driven by three key operational forcing functions:

Regulatory Compliance

Currently, space agencies and national regulators are imposing increasingly strict requirements for the active management of satellites at the end of their service life. The FCC rule states that a satellite be removed from orbit within five years after the completion of its mission. Similarly, the ESA Zero Debris Charter sets a new goal to eliminate production of new space debris during routine operations by 2030. Furthermore, the UN Guidelines on the Long-Term Sustainability of Space Activities (UN LTS Guidelines) establish these principles at the international level. Ultimately, all these documents share a single requirement: a satellite must be capable of leaving orbit in a controlled manner, rather than simply waiting for natural decay.

Launch & Operational Agility

Consequently, rideshare deployments rarely place spacecraft in optimal operational planes. On-board propulsion enables rapid orbit correction, constellation phasing, and active Collision Avoidance Maneuvers (COLA).

Launch Manifesting & Time-to-Orbit

Additionally, unpressurized, non-toxic propulsion systems streamline range safety hazards, simplify launch broker approvals, and accelerate primary payload co-manifesting sign-offs.

Orbital mobility has gone from being a “nice-to-have” to an “absolute must” for any serious mission.

Technical Misconceptions in CubeSat & SmallSat Propulsion

Although the topic of orbital mobility is actively discussed in the industry, there are still quite a few myths surrounding it.

1. "CubeSat Envelopes Cannot Accommodate Meaningful Delta V Budgets"

A standard 1U to 12U envelope can accommodate a Delta  V capacity of 50-150 m/s. This budget is sufficient for post-rideshare dispersion correction, constellation phasing, drag-makeup altitude maintenance, and active EOL disposal.

2. "Electric Propulsion Is Always the Superior Solution"

While Electric Propulsion (EP) provides high specific impulse Isp, its sub-millinewton thrust levels demand extensive burn durations and heavy power allocations. This constrains payload duty cycles and renders EP unsuitable for time-critical maneuvers like sudden COLA. High-thrust-to-power electrothermal water systems offer immediate impulse delivery without depleting power budgets.

3. "A Passive or Single-Use Deorbit Device Is Sufficient"

Single-use deorbit mechanisms provide no utility during primary operational phases. They cannot perform active collision avoidance, correct launch dispersion, or support orbit adjustments. A fully integrated electrothermal propulsion system provides operational flexibility across the entire lifecycle before executing final disposal.

4. "Propulsion Systems Introduce High Risk and Integration Costs"

Legacy systems required hypergolic propellants or high-pressure gas storage (>200 bar), triggering complex range safety requirements and ground handling protocols. Modern water-based electrothermal systems store propellant as an unpressurized liquid, eliminating hazardous ground operations and lowering launch integration risk.

Engineering Advantages of Water-Based Electrothermal Propulsion

Water-based electrothermal systems combine high volumetric impulse density with low integration overhead:

Safety and Ease of Integration

Stored as an unpressurized, non-toxic, non-explosive liquid, water simplifies launch site loading, hazard analyses, and co-manifesting sign-offs.

Export Control Compliance

In addition, water-based solutions are not subject to the U.S. ITAR export controls, which opens up access to the international market and simplifies working with customers around the world.

Volumetric Efficiency

Furthermore, dense liquid storage maximizes stored propellant mass within tight CubeSat envelopes without requiring heavy pressure vessels.

Flight Heritage

The technology has advanced from initial tech-demo status to flight-proven, flight-heritage hardware in LEO.

CubeSat and smallsat operators, companies building satellite constellations, and teams launching payloads via rideshare will benefit the most from water-based propulsion systems.

About SteamJet Space Systems

SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialise in water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), prioritising operational safety and rapid launch integration. 

By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) manoeuvres — including orbital maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting — without the risks associated with toxic hydrazine or high-pressure cold gas systems, advancing green propulsion for space missions.

Steamjet Propulsion Technology

Our modular systems are engineered for seamless integration and maximum safety compliance:

Steamjet TunaCan Thruster: A compact, high-efficiency solution for 1U-3U CubeSats.

Steamjet TunaTank Thruster: A safe, high-performance electrothermal propulsion system.

Steamjet Thruster One: Scalable propulsion for larger SmallSat constellations.

Discover how SteamJet’s sustainable space propulsion innovations are providing the safety and reliability required for the next generation of crewed and robotic missions. Contact our engineering team for technical specifications and ICDs.