Beyond the Board: Early Engagement Means Faster Prototyping for Defense Programs
Defense Speak Interpreted: The Autonomous Plane Battle—Skyborg Vs. Loyal Wingman
American Made Advocacy: Congress Back from Break With Work To Do
Blue Canyon Technologies Expands Into GEO With Its First CubeSat
April 29, 2022 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, assisted in the deployment of Ascent, the company’s first CubeSat spacecraft bus launched to a geostationary, or GEO, orbit by the Air Force Research Laboratory as part of the U.S. Space Force’s Test Program-3 mission.
Blue Canyon provided the 12U CubeSat bus, avionics, flight software, Guidance Navigation and Control actuators and sensors, batteries, solar panels, solar array drives, two propulsion systems, and RF communication hardware. BCT was on-site during commissioning and ensured the spacecraft was in a safe, stable power and thermal attitude before releasing operations to the lab to complete the mission objectives.
“In addition to being BCT’s first CubeSat flown at GEO, this is also the first demonstration of our Solar Array Drive Assemblies and the first application of our CubeSat components in the GEO radiation and charging environment,” said John Carvo, executive director of CubeSats, a business unit of BCT. “This is yet another example of our vertical integration and collaborative partnerships with our customers that enable BCT to expand the frontiers of science and defense.”
The Ascent mission is evaluating the performance of commercial-off-the-shelf technology and capabilities in the GEO space environment, only previously seen in LEO flight experiments. Ascent comprises several demonstrations that include flying two propulsion systems and the first GEO application of the Georgia Tech cold gas propulsion system to provide momentum management. BCT contacted the spacecraft on the first acquisition and continues to support on-orbit questions as needed.
At the company’s manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado, Blue Canyon recently converted the available office space to house its full CubeSat product line. BCT has more than 20 CubeSats in production and offers standardized designs that enable rapid delivery. The company is comprised of four core business units – CubeSats, Microsats, Components, and Mission Operations, with each offering peak performance, low-cost, and integrated solutions delivered directly to the end-user.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Muon Space to Integrate SpaceX’s Starlink Mini Space Lasers Into Its Halo™ Satellite Platform
10/21/2025 | Muon SpaceMuon Space, a leading end‑to‑end space systems provider specializing in mission‑optimized satellite constellations, announced an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to integrate its mini laser terminals into Muon’s high-performance Halo™ satellite platform.
The Republic of Korea Selects L3Harris for Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Program
10/20/2025 | BUSINESS WIREL3Harris Technologies has received a contract to deliver modified Bombardier Global 6500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force.
SemiQon's Cryogenic Chip Technology for Quantum Computing and Space Applications Receives Award from EARTO
10/17/2025 | PRNewswireEARTO, the organisation of the European Research and Technology Organisations, awarded SemiQon and VTT first prize in the "Impact Expected" category on 14 October 2025 in Brussels for a pioneering cryogenic CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chip innovation.
Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire Smiths Interconnect
10/17/2025 | MolexMolex, a leading global electronics connectivity innovator, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Smiths Interconnect.
SemiQon's Cryogenic Chip Technology for Quantum Computing and Space Applications Receives Award from EARTO
10/16/2025 | PRNewswireEARTO, the organisation of the European Research and Technology Organisations, awarded SemiQon and VTT first prize in the "Impact Expected" category on 14 October 2025 in Brussels for a pioneering cryogenic CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chip innovation.