Products & ServicesSpace Propulsion SystemsCubeSat High Impulse Propulsion (CHIPS)

150% Performance of Cold-Gas

The CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System (CHIPS) leverages CUA’s patented compact resistojet technology to significantly boost the performance of standard cold-gas systems. A 1U CHIPS, using a non-toxic propellant, is a complete propulsion solution having a total estimated impulse of 563 N-s and a fully throttleable continuous thrust of 30 mN. The system also includes a 3-axis cold-gas Attitude Control System (ACS) as a replacement or supplement for reaction wheels. System set-points, system status, and firing telemetry are all accessible and configurable through an RS422 serial interface. CHIPS may be customized to meet customer specific mission requirements.

Advantages include:

  • Primary specific impulse (Isp) is ~50% higher than cold-gas systems

  • Thrust can be throttled

  • Compact package size w/ ACS as small as 0.6U

  • Compact package size without ACS as small as 0.3U

  • ACS can be expanded to full 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF)

  • Well-suited for 3U or larger CubeSats 

Propellant Options: R236fa and R134a (range safety approved)

Status: Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) required for final design and qualification. First unit w/ dual fault tolerance unit ~15-month lead time.

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150% Performance of Cold-Gas
Related Publications
N. Hejmanowski, C. A. Woodruff, R. L. Burton, D. L. Carroll, and A.D. Palla, “CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System (CHIPS) Design and Performance” 05 Dec. 2016, 63rd JANNAF Propulsion - Dec 2016, Phoenix, AZ, Dec 5-9, 2016, Vol. 2016-4800, DOI n/a, (2016)
N. Hejmanowski, C. A. Woodruff, R. L. Burton, D. L. Carroll, and J.M. Cardin, “CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System (CHIPS)” 01 Jun. 2015, 62nd JANNAF Propulsion Meeting (7th Spacecraft Propulsion), Nashville, TN, Jun 1-5, 2015, Vol., No., pp., DOI n/a, Paper Tracking # 4032 (2015)