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Unibody composite spacecraft structure with the propellant tank built in
One composite structure carries the bus and payload and holds the propellant. It needs no extra support elements. Microcosm developed it with Scorpius Space Launch Company.
Key facts
| Mass reduction | 20% to 40%, by configuration |
|---|---|
| Strength and stiffness | Higher than a traditional metal structure |
| Thermal sensitivity | Low. Composites have a very low coefficient of thermal expansion |
| Launch interface | Standard Planetary Systems LightBand |
| Propellants | Hydrazine and most spacecraft propellants |
| Tank bladder | Standard sizes include a bladder made from a material that has flown in space for many years |
| Build | To your specification, with design help |
| Timeline | Rapid development and construction |
What it does
- It gives excellent strength, stiffness and robustness, so the design is very stiff and strong.
- It removes secondary structures, which add parasitic weight.
- It passes loads through the LightBand directly into the launch vehicle support structure.
- It makes payloads and bus subsystems easy to install.
The representative structure in our design includes the propellant tank, thrusters, CubeSat channels and a candidate solar panel configuration.
Composite tanks and launch vehicles
Microcosm designs the structure for small spacecraft. Scorpius Space Launch Company, a separate company, builds composite tanks and launch vehicles. See scorpius.com.
Request a structure quote
Tell us your payload mass, propellant and launch interface.
Or write to microcosm@smad.com or call (310) 539-2306.