Campaign
CubeSat33 is a 3U bus built around dual-mode green propulsion and high-speed laser communications — so every minute in orbit stays productive. This campaign funds real hardware, not just a website.
Why
A single green propellant for fast chemical thrust and efficient electrospray station-keeping — one tank, two jobs, more room for payload.
Optical downlink with active beam steering moves large data volumes during each clear pass — RF backup for housekeeping when weather or geometry blocks the laser.
Funding
The base goal builds and bench-tests a real satellite. Stretch goals, funded by pledges beyond the base, carry it toward qualification and orbit.
Engineering model, dual-mode propulsion testbed, laser-comms downlink, ground station, core team. Outcome: working bus proving both systems on the ground.
Procure and assemble flight subsystems, including the electric-propulsion module.
Vibration + thermal-vacuum, flight software polish, spectrum licensing — launch-ready satellite.
Rideshare slot, deployer integration, insurance, 12 months ops, open-data portal for laser downlinks.
Base goal
| Line item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Engineering development model (avionics + comms bench) | $52,000 |
| Laser-comms downlink — optics, beam steering + firmware | $22,000 |
| Dual-mode propulsion testbed contribution | $8,000 |
| Ground station (S/UHF) | $8,000 |
| Flight software & integration | $8,000 |
| Lab consumables, harness, mechanical | $6,000 |
| Core team stipends (2 part-time engineers, 6 months) | $14,000 |
| Reward fulfillment (pins, patches, shipping) | $9,000 |
| Contingency (12%) | $14,280 |
| Platform + payment fees (~9%) | $13,180 |
| Total — base goal | $150,000 |
Full-mission cost across all phases is ~$700,000 — in line with typical turnkey 3U missions, plus dual-mode propulsion and laser-comms additions.
Rewards
Physical rewards are budgeted. Flight-dependent rewards are delivered if and when CubeSat33 reaches orbit. Pledge links go live when the campaign platform is open — contact us to join the early list.
$10
Backer updates, digital Backer Wall, mission-patch wallpaper
$35
Enamel mission pin + sticker pack + above
$75
Embroidered mission patch + pin + stickers + downlink data access
$150
Mission tee + patch + pin + name on digital plaque
$250
Name/message etched in onboard plaque data + signed poster + above
$500
Message in a commissioning laser downlink + telemetry log + above
$1,000
3D-printed scale model + name on flight hardware + above
$2,500
Tagged downlink session + live team call + above
$5,000
Help pick a downlink target + sponsor credit + model + above
$10,000
Logo on satellite + named subsystem + launch stream invite + above
Timeline
Month 0
Funding closes — lock design; order long-lead avionics.
Months 1–4
Build engineering model; integrate dual-mode + laser testbeds.
Months 4–7
Bench-test full stack; ship pins, patches, tees.
Months 7–18
Qualify & launch (stretch-dependent) — flight hardware, env test, rideshare, ops.
Honesty