Project

A CubeSat bus built around productive orbit time

CubeSat33 is a single-satellite concept: dual-mode green propulsion for control and persistence, plus laser communications for high-volume data return. The goal is simple — less waiting, more delivered data.

Propulsion Comms

Architecture

One bus, two complementary modes of work

Traditional CubeSats either lack real propulsion, carry a single weak thruster class, or split mass across incompatible systems. CubeSat33 centers the design on two capabilities that reinforce each other.

01 · Stay useful

Dual-mode propulsion

Chemical mode for rapid orbit adjustments and avoidance
Electrospray mode for efficient long dwell station-keeping
Single ASCENT tank reduces tankage and feed-system overhead

02 · Return data

Laser communications

High-rate optical downlink when geometry and weather allow
Active beam steering to hold lock through residual jitter
RF backup for commands and cloud-blocked passes

What changed

From network relay concept to direct high-rate path

Earlier idea

Relaying LEO data through a Starlink-class ground terminal mesh was attractive on paper, but depends on operator cooperation, licensing, and interfaces that do not exist today.

Current concept

Own the space segment you can control: dual-mode persistence plus laser terminals that already have CubeSat-scale flight heritage. No mega-constellation partnership required to start.

Form factor

Sized for rideshare economics

Target configurations stay inside practical CubeSat envelopes so the bus can ride modern Transporter-class manifests without custom launch deals.

Bus class

3U–6U

Propulsion

Shared ASCENT tank

Comms

Laser terminal + RF

See why the combination matters

Mission advantages focus on data returned per day — not subsystem specs in isolation.

Advantages