The Propulsion Unit for CubeSat (PUC) is a complete, high-performance, and compact small-satellite propulsion solution. The all-welded titanium body comes fully integrated with all necessary propulsion subsystems, including microcontroller, power processing unit, Micro-Cavity Discharge (MCD) thruster, propellant valves, heaters, sensors, and software.
PUC achieves its high impulse, low-volume capability by employing CUA’s patented MCD propellant heating technology, a high-density and self-pressurizing liquid propellant, and an optimized low-mass-flow nozzle. PUC is software-configurable to operate over a wide range of power, thrust, and impulse levels. System set-points, system status, and firing telemetry are all accessible and configurable through an RS422 serial interface. PUC was customized to meet customer specific mission requirements.
CUA delivered 8 of the PUC units to the U.S. Air Force facilities in 2014 for use in their CubeSat project. Subsequent innovative propellant discoveries led to the retiring of the PUC and its use of Sulfur Dioxide which proved to be a caustic substance for this application. We have evolved our systems to utilize more "Green", environmentally friendly, safer propellants.
Highly compact package size as small as 0.35U, Sulfur Dioxide propellent
No longer in production, originally available as 0.35U single fault tolerant unit w/ ~15-month lead time
Alternate form factors available w/ additional cost and lead time
Advantages Include:
Highly compact package size as small as 0.35U
Low power requirement of 15 W
Well-suited for 3U CubeSats w/ low available volume