BGT-X5 1U CubeSat Green System

Busek’s BGT-X5 green monopropellant thruster system produces 0.5 N thrust and features a highly stable “green” propellant alternative to hydrazine. The thruster features a patented long-life catalyst reactor, high temperature thruster body, and low- power piezo microvalve (flight heritage). The novel propellant tank and patent-pending Post-Launch Pressurization System (PLPS) enable a compact high-thrust propulsion solution for CubeSats and SmallSats. The BGT-X5 system has 1U volume and easily scales by increasing the size of the propellant tank to support higher total impulse applications. Alternately, multiple systems can be easily integrated onto a single spacecraft for modular attitude control and translational thrust.

The thruster delivers 500 mN thrust at 220-225 seconds specific impulse at approximately 400 psi feed pressure. As a 1U system, it delivers 146 m/s delta-V to a 4 kg CubeSat and is capable of multiple start-stops for precision firing and short impulse bits on the order of 0.05 N-s. The rugged flight electronics includes an integrated DCIU with communication via RS-485.