Better CubeSat Thrusters? iLAuNCH Trailblazer launches a project to do just that
Credit: iLaunch
Exciting news from the iLAuNCH Trailblazer project! They're currently developing an innovative thrust vectoring system that will massively improve CubeSat guidance, navigation, and control (CNC). Known as the Bogong Thruster, it's based on research from the Australian National University and Boswell Technologies, which successfully launched a similar system into space back in 2023!
So, what exactly is this new system? Well, the Bogong Thruster is essentially a box filled with naphthalene (also known as mothballs), which is a propellant that goes from a solid to a gas when heated. By releasing naphthalene gas into space, it creates thrust that propels the spacecraft forward. Incredible, right?
The iLAuNCH Trailblazer is proud to be pioneering Australia's first vectored thrust technology for small satellites! "We're using the space heritage demonstrated by our iLAuNCH university partner ANU and Boswell Technologies to make Australian space history," says the Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett.
Once the Bogong Thruster is incorporated into Azista's attitude control system, it will offer unprecedented precision manoeuvring for small satellites! The system will also provide new capabilities for applications in Earth observation, secure communications, and optical alignment.
Excitingly, the iLAuNCH Trailblazer has partnered with Indian company Azista Industries to integrate the thruster into a CubeSat and demonstrate space flight heritage on orbit. Lovett says, "Successful demonstration of this thruster will open it up for commercialisation into the CubeSats and SmallSats that Azista is developing."
In the past, a significant drawback of any CubeSat has been the lack of size, weight, and power available for controlling subsystems once in space. However, the iLAuNCH Trailblazer is confident that the new Bogong Thruster system will catalyse the small satellite sector. It will introduce an advanced vectored thrust control system, marking a significant leap in manoeuvring capabilities.
Boswell Technologies CEO, Professor Roderick Boswell, adds, "The successful demonstration of this technology in orbit will serve as a critical milestone, showcasing the potential for this home-grown innovation to revolutionise small satellite operations and establish new industry standards for satellite control systems. By enhancing the manoeuvrability of small satellites, this project has the scope to stimulate economic growth within the regional satellite and space technology markets."
Azista will design and produce the CubeSat, ensuring compatibility with the integrated propulsion and pointing systems. They'll also prepare it for comprehensive altitude/attitude control testing and manage the satellite's launch into orbit to showcase the technology's functionality and readiness for the market.
"There's still a long way to go," says Azista Industries Business Development Manager Bharath Simha Reddy Pappula. "Concept and deformable structure design will be followed by prototyping, testing and integration, which will culminate in the delivery to the launch facility for pre-launch testing and preparation in 2026. Once in orbit, Azista will control the satellite, and different mission and test profiles will be performed on the satellite to show the capabilities of the technology."
Original article: https://spaceanddefense.io/ilaunch-trailblazer-project-to-develop-a-better-cubesat-thruster-system/
