Exolaunch's flagship cubesat deployer family, offering the most advanced cubesat deployment system on the market with flight-proven heritage across dozens of rideshare missions.
EXOpod Nova
Exolaunch's flagship cubesat deployer family, offering the most advanced cubesat deployment system on the market with flight-proven heritage across dozens of rideshare missions.
Description
EXOpod is Exolaunch's cubesat deployment system, integrated as part of the company's rideshare mission integration services for small satellites launching on vehicles such as SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter missions, Vega, PSLV, and Soyuz. The current generation, EXOpod Nova, is available in 6U, 8U, 12U, and 16U configurations that can be subdivided into smaller slots to accommodate cubesats from 0.25U up to 16U. EXOpod Nova redefines cubesat integration by enabling up to 400% additional volume for lateral protrusions and 30% extra usable mass compared to the standard cubesat design specification, while remaining fully backwards compatible. EXOpod was the first commercially available deployer to deploy a 16U satellite in LEO, and EXOpod Nova is the only deployer to date to do so in GEO. The system features an industry-leading clamping mechanism, multi-sided access windows for inspection and remove-before-flight pin access, and can be integrated, triggered, and reset within minutes. It is manufactured in Germany, built entirely from COTS components, and is ITAR-free. EXOpod deployers have flown on dozens of missions since 2017, supporting Exolaunch's role as a leading smallsat rideshare launch integrator that has deployed hundreds of satellites to orbit.
Specifications
| Available sizes | 6U, 8U, 12U, 16U (subdividable) |
|---|---|
| Cubesat compatibility | 0.25U to 16U |
| Flight heritage | 31 missions flown, 382 cubesats deployed since 2017 (EXOpod family) |
| Company-wide flight heritage | 800+ satellites deployed to orbit as of Transporter-17 mission (2026) |
| Lateral protrusion volume increase (Nova) | Up to 400% over standard CDS |
| Notable first | First commercially-available deployer to deploy a 16U satellite in LEO; EXOpod Nova only deployer to do so in GEO |
| Export control status | ITAR-free |
| Manufacturing | Made in Germany |