Today, CubeSat technology is becoming more and more sophisticated. The cost of making a mistake in orbit is as high as ever, because these errors are often impossible to correct. That’s why building in mission assurance from the start is essential for keeping operations reliable, safe, and predictable. Especially so in the case of subsystems like propulsion. SteamJet delivers not just hardware, but dependable, mission-ready performance.
Successful testing on Earth doesn’t always guarantee that the propulsion system will provide the same performance in orbit. In space, the thruster is subjected to extreme temperatures, fluctuating pressure, and prolonged continuous stress. Frequently, many propulsion systems fail not because of the design, but due to the lack of a well-defined operational framework across the entire mission.
Engineering Mission Assurance from Day One
At SteamJet, we not only verify the system during the final testing, but also ensure to build in the mission reliability from the very start of the development. We follow ECSS standards and NASA’s Fault Management principles to develop our engineering solutions.
Traceability, Repeatability, and Validation
This is how we make sure that all decisions can be traced and the results can be reproduced. We continue validation at every stage. We don’t “test” reliability, we build it in from the start.
Fault Management: The Core of Mission Assurance
FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery) is a key process to provide reliability. It is especially important for CubeSats, because of the limited resources and the lack of constant monitoring from Earth, the system must be capable of responding autonomously to abnormal situations.
SteamJet thrusters are designed to “think” through anomalies. Using a sophisticated Fault Management (FM) architecture, we map out scenarios like thermal rises or pressure leaks to ensure rapid recovery.
At the fault detection stage, the system monitors telemetry parameters in real time. Namely, pressure, temperature, and more. The main goal is to identify discrepancies right away. The next stage is isolation. At this stage, we identify what exactly happened. And if it was a temporary sensor malfunction or an actual hardware problem. A false alarm may lead to an unnecessary mission shutdown.
The final stage is recovery. At this stage, the system turns back to the safe mode. It allows for adjusting operating parameters and reducing the load to maintain operational capabilities.
The Result: Predictable and Reliable Propulsion
By aligning with the NASA Fault Management Handbook, we guarantee a high level of mission assurance. As a result, the client not only receives a thruster itself, but a predictable and controllable part of the satellite that doesn’t create additional risks for the missions. SteamJet propulsion systems guarantee stable performance, resilience to malfunctions, and predictable behavior in orbit, even under the most challenging conditions.
About SteamJet Space Systems
SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialize in water-based thrusters designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), with a strong focus on water-based thruster safety.
By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) maneuvers — 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:
Steam TunaCan Thruster: A compact, high-efficiency solution for 1U-3U CubeSats.
Steam 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.