Special Projects: XPOD Separation System
The XPOD Separation System was developed for nanosatellites and small microsatellites. The XPOD is an enclosed “jack-in-the-box” container for separating nanosatellites from virtually any launch vehicle. Various models are available, including models compatible with the CalPoly CubeSat standard. Once a deployment signal is received from the launch vehicle, a power supply inside the XPOD activates a release mechanism causing a door to open and the spacecraft to be ejected. The XPOD implements a single-failure fail-operational design, and is customizable for spacecraft up to 16kg with arbitrary dimensions. Also available are semi-enclosed (or “open concept”) designs that accommodate fixed appendages. XPODs come in various standard models – the XPOD Single, XPOD Triple, and XPOD GNB models are pictured above.
Specification
Two XPOD models are summarized below. Additional models and customized units are available.
| Accommodation | – XPOD Triple | 10 x 10 x 34 cm, 3.5 kg spacecraft |
| – XPOD DUO | 20 x 20 x 40 cm, 14 kg spacecraft | |
| Release mechanism | Clamp-type with Vectran tie-down | |
| Deployment Signal | 28 V, 1.4A, 500 ms | |
| Telemetry | Door Status, Deployment Status | |
| Mechanical Interface | Customizable per LV requirement | |
| Dimensions | – XPOD Triple | 42 x 17.5 x 15 cm, 3.5 kg w/o spacecraft |
| and Mass | – XPOD DUO | 47 x 47 x 52 cm, 10 kg w/o spacecraft |
| Temperature, Operational | -35ºC to +65ºC | |
| Temperature, Survival | -35ºC to +65ºC | |
| Vibration | 12.9 gRMS | |
| Natural Frequency | >100 Hz | |
| Miscellaneous | The XPOD power supply requires charge top-off every 30 days |
*Specification subject to change. Unit is delivered with functional testing only.
Environmental acceptance is not performed unless negotiated with the customer.