Geoscan 3U CubeSat Platform
Geoscan
Flight-proven 3U CubeSat bus with 2U payload volume, 16 satellites launched under the Space-π program since 2022.
Technical specifications
- Assembled mass (without payload) — Mod.1
- 1.8 kg
- Assembled mass (without payload) — Mod.2
- 2.3 kg
- Maximum payload mass — Mod.1
- 4.2 kg
- Maximum payload mass — Mod.2
- 3.7 kg
- Maximum total mass with payload
- 6 kg
- Dimensions folded (with separation system locked)
- 100×100×340.5 mm (100×100×376.5 mm with Tuna Can)
- Available payload volume
- 95×95×180 mm (~2U)
- Radiation protection
- Aluminum sheet 1.2 mm
- Available payload power (stabilized)
- 3.3–12 V / 2 A
- Available payload power (unstabilized)
- 7–8.4 V / 2 A
- Payload average power at LEO
- 2 W
- Available maximum payload power
- 15 W
- Battery capacity
- 50 W·h
- Battery type
- Li-ion 2S 7200 mAh
- Payload interfaces
- CAN; high-speed LVDS (4-wire, UART/SPI)
- Attitude control
- Magnetic + flywheel (reaction wheel) systems
- Overview camera
- 2 MP
- Flight heritage
- 16 satellites launched, 2022–2025 (Space-π program)
About
The Geoscan 3U is a flight-proven small satellite platform in the CubeSat 3U form factor, developed by Geoscan for educational and scientific missions under Russia’s Space-π program. Since its first launch in 2022 (Geoscan-Edelveis, the first private small satellite from St. Petersburg), the platform has supported 16 satellites launched into orbit through 2025.
The platform can carry up to four payloads with a combined volume of up to 2U, including Earth remote sensing cameras and compact scientific instruments. A CAN bus is provided for payload command and telemetry, with a high-speed configurable LVDS bus (4-wire, configurable as UART/SPI) for high-volume data transfer from payload. A custom interface board is developed per satellite for payload integration.
For orientation in space, the platform uses both magnetic and flywheel (reaction wheel) attitude control systems. Each satellite is equipped with a 2 MP overview camera. A telemetry beacon is transmitted for regular health monitoring, and a radio protocol is available for decoding beacon data and downlinking images.
The platform is offered in two configurations: Modification 1 (reduced set) at 1.8 kg assembled, and Modification 2 (full set) at 2.3 kg. Both configurations provide a maximum total mass with payload of 6 kg and a payload volume of 95×95×180 mm (~2U).
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
