Read the story HERE.

The space industry continues to transition from traditional heavy systems to new, smaller spacecraft systems. This has brought about several changes in the technology, including propulsion. The rising wave of rideshare missions, a cost-effective approach to space missions, involves launching multiple payloads on a single launch vehicle. With so many payloads now co-manifested on a single launch vehicle, it is necessary to manage and balance the multiple competing interests, risks, and hazards that payloads may pose to the launch vehicle and each other – not to mention, the drop-off location is up to the launch provider as opposed to where the payload customer needs to be to accomplish their mission. Let’s consider propulsion. According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and United States Air Force (USAF)/ United States Space Force (USSF), traditionally used chemical propellant called hydrazine poses significant risks and safety hazards to both the launch vehicle, payloads onboard and humans ground testing / integrating systems with hydrazine onboard. Green propellants have the potential to increase the rideshare opportunity for smallsats that require chemical propulsion and safety. 

In this article, we will take a deeper look into this topic as well as a high-performance, low toxicity “green” monopropellant that addresses the hazards that rideshare missions must navigate called ASCENT. We will also take a look at one company, Rubicon Space Systems, who has achieved flight heritage and whose product line is a compelling consideration for your payload.

See Rubicon's SatSearch Listing HERE.