The CU Aerospace (CUA) / VACCO CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System (CHIPS) offers a miniaturized and well-integrated small-satellite propulsion solution, including both a main thruster and three-axis attitude control system (ACS). CHIPS achieves a high total- impulse-to-volume ratio by leveraging CUA’s high- efficiency resistojet technology, VACCO Industries’ compact frictionless valve technology, and self- pressurizing, non-toxic, and inert propellants. Waste heat from the electronics and resistojet is efficiently and regeneratively recovered to evaporate propellant, resulting in a system temperature rise of only ~1°C per 10 minutes of operation.

The baseline CHIPS is a 1U, fully-throttleable system. System set-points, system status, and firing telemetry are all accessible and configurable through an RS-422 serial interface. CUA offers an optional battery module to simplify integration with existing low-power CubeSat buses. CHIPS may be customized to meet customer- specific mission requirements.

• Two operational modes:
• Warm gas: high specific impulse
• Cold gas: minimum or small impulse
• Overall control authority: roll, pitch, yaw, +/- z
• On-orbit update of system parameters, including:
• Thrust duration
• Plenum pressure (i.e. thrust)
• Superheater power level (i.e. specific impulse)
• Temperature & fault set-points
• Telemetry and status packets for system monitoring
• Dedicated propellant heater for continous operation below 0°C ambient temperature
• Propellant vaporizer for ensuring 100% vapor delivery
• Voltage and current sensors for closed-loop power regulation, monitoring, troubleshooting, and protection.
• Reliable, frictionless VACCO valve technology:
• Valves tested to 200,000+ cold gas firings
• System is two-failure-tolerant against leakage
• Life span: 2+ years from propellant load
• High-density & self-pressurizing propellants (R134a and R236fa):
• Non-flammable, chemically stable, high critical temperature, low freezing point, & low vapor pressure
• Commonly used refrigerant / propellant
• Optional battery module