Separation Systems
Advanced, lightweight hardware with 100% mission success
In October 2021, Rocket Lab acquired Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a Maryland-based aerospace hardware company delivering mechanical separation systems and satellite dispensers with 100% mission success heritage across more than 50 missions.
For more than 15 years, PSC’s Lightband separation systems used to separate satellites from rockets have enabled customers to lower their mission costs and streamline payload integration time from days to just minutes. PSC’s fully-encapsulated Canisterized Satellite Dispensers (CSD) are a reliable and cost-effective housing for small satellites that minimizes damage risk and eliminates the necessity for heavy or complicated interface structures between satellites and the launch vehicle.
PSC's Lightbands and CSDs complement Rocket Lab's space hardware offering that includes the Maxwell satellite dispenser, the industry's lightest CubeSat dispenser in its class. Incorporating Rocket Lab's signature carbon-composite material and design, Maxwell is optimized for mass and simplicity and fully integrated with Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle, simplifying payload integration and deployment for small satellite mission.
Together, Rocket Lab and PSC are building on their record of success and reliability to deliver an end-to-end solution for the space industry.
Lightbands
The Lightband is a lightweight, cost-effective separation system used to separate space vehicles from launch vehicles and to separate elements of launch vehicles. Lightbands are patented, Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology made with materials and methods consistent with high-reliability and Class-A space flight hardware.
Advanced Lightband
The Advanced Lightband is offered in a range of sizes from 8 to 24 inch bolt circle diameter.
- Easy to use – Integrate in less than 30 minutes
- Reliable – Thousands of tests prove reliability
- Stiffer and stronger
- Integrated Separation Springs, Switches and Connectors
- No consumables, not pyrotechnic
- Separation tests can be repeated in minutes
Mark II Motorized Lightband
The Mark II Motorized Lightband (MLB) is offered in a range of sizes from 8 to 38 inch bolt circle diameter.
- Non-pyrotechnic separation system
- Diameters from 8 inch – 38 inch
- TRL-9, over 45 lightbands flown
- 100% success on orbit
- Lowest overall cost
- No consumables to operate
Satellite Dispensers
Maxwell
Satellite Dispenser
- Lightest CubeSat dispenser in its class
- Unique carbon fibre structure
- Dual separation switches and one-way clutch bearing, in-door hinge to restrict door bounce back
- Low spin-rate and reliable deployment
- Non-explosive lock and redundant dual door release mechanism to ensure accurate moment of deployment
Canisterized
Satellite Dispenser
- Non-pyrotechnic satellite dispenser › Sizes: 3U, 6U, 12U
- Fully preloaded payload
- Lowest overall cost
- TRL-9, flight heritage achieved › 2kg per U mass capability
Sub-Assemblies
PSC Subassemblies include lower separation and upper separation connectors, separation switches, and lightband compression tools.
- TRL-9, used on 50+ missions
- 100% success rate on orbit
- Volume discounts available
- Seamless integration with MLB and CSD