TunaTank Thruster: High-Impulse Water Propulsion Utilising the TunaCan Volume for Enhanced Mission Endurance.

The TunaTank Thruster is a safe, high-performance electrothermal propulsion system that utilises low-pressure water to deliver up to 50x more thrust than traditional electric propulsion. Its unique semi-external design leverages the “tunacan” volume of CubeSat deployers, allowing for increased propellant storage in a bespoke fuel tank inside CubeSats or small satellites.

Maximum Volumetric Efficiency: Utilising "Dead Space"

In the space industry, volume is a premium commodity. TunaTank solves the “cylinder problem” by offering conformal fuel tanks designed to fit the unique internal architecture of your satellite.

Tailored Geometry: We 3D-print tanks to utilize the irregular “dead space” inside standard 3U, 6U, and 12U frames and even bigger small satellite frames.
Increased Delta V Budget: By filling corners and gaps that standard tanks leave empty, you can carry more propellant without increasing your satellite’s external dimensions.
Optimised Centre of Mass: Customise the tank shape to balance your satellite’s mass distribution, simplifying your AOCS requirements.
Payload is thermally isolated: The thermal node is located outside the CubeSat frame within the “tunacan” volume of the deployer and is physically separated from the payload by the integrated water propellant tank, which acts as a natural thermal barrier.

SteamJet TunaTank Thruster Technical Specifications

SYSTEM WET MASS ~0.9 kg
SPECIFIC IMPULSE 172 s
Thrust Level 5 – 20 mN
PROPELLANT TYPE Water
TOTAL IMPULSE Up to 600 Ns
INPUT POWER < 20 W (Peak)

CAD Model for SteamJet TunaTank Thruster by SteamJet Space Systems, Ltd.

CAD Model