Blue Canyon Technologies, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, is a complete end-to-end spacecraft company and a leading provider of turnkey small satellites solutions, including nanosatellites, microsatellites, and ESPA-class satellites. BCT, through its various missions, is enabling space missions to expand the frontiers of science and defense. Their attitude determination and control components are one-of-a-kind, allowing for industry-leading precision pointing platforms.
Products
BCT offers a wide range of high-performance, low-recurring cost and rapid-response spacecraft systems and components. Its product range includes Attitude Control Sytems, Star Trackers, Reaction Wheels & CMGS, Power System Capabilites, RF Capabilities.
ADCS Systems
Blue Canyon offers a reliable, high-performance design compatible with a wide range of satellite configurations
leveraging the industry’s most precise stellar-based attitude determination. At the core is a powerful processor, seamlessly integrated with low-noise reaction wheel assemblies and advanced star trackers, driving the next generation of miniaturized spacecraft toward unmatched performance and cost-efficiency. With three scalable XACT models available (XACT-15, XACT-50 and XACT-100), this versatile solution ensures ultra-accurate pointing for CubeSats across mission profiles, making it the trusted choice for precision-driven satellite maneuvering.
Flexcore: For highly capable, cost-efficient attitude control systems compatible with minisats and microsats, FleXcore features three-axis stellar attitude determination in a modular package. FleXcore is built using XACT-based electronics to point with industry-leading accuracy.
Star Trackers
Blue Canyon’s Nano Star Trackers deliver flight-proven reliability and high performance across diverse spacecraft platforms. Engineered for precision, these trackers excel in even the most demanding mission environments.
Built to surpass GEVS-level qualifications, the Nano Star Tracker offers a low SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) solution without compromising on capability. Its turnkey “starlight-in, quaternion-out” design ensures seamless integration, enabling accurate tracking down to 7.5 magnitude and simplifying spacecraft attitude determination for advanced space operations.
Reaction Wheels
Blue Canyon’s Reaction Wheels are engineered for ultra-low disturbance and long operational life. Featuring an advanced lubrication system and integrated vibration isolation, these wheels deliver smooth, reliable attitude control across spacecraft platforms.
With over 3,000 units manufactured and hundreds currently on-orbit, Blue Canyon’s reaction wheels have demonstrated flight heritage across diverse missions from very low Earth orbit (VLEO) to ambitious cislunar and interplanetary journeys. Their proven versatility and precision make them the trusted choice for next-generation spacecraft navigation.
Control Moment Gyroscopes
The Blue Canyon Technologies range of Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs), available in 2 models- CMG8 and CMG12, are built to provide your spacecraft with the exquisite agility necessary to navigate the most challenging missions.
Blue Canyon’s CMGs offer improved torque performance at a lower power consumption than reaction wheels. Leveraging their advanced reaction wheel technology, CMGs provide low jitter and long-life performance for your mission.
Power System Capabilities
Solar Panels
Solar panels generate power with high-efficiency solar cells. Blue Canyon offers configurations ranging from simple body-mounted wings to multi-panel and multiwing deployed arrays with the option to gimbal up to two arrays. Their standard arrays include 30 percent efficient cells, carbon fiber substrates and magentic dipole mitigation. Release mechanisms and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) are available for optimum sun-pointing operations.
Solar Array Drive Assemblies
Maximize your payload operation time by freeing up the solar array pointing constraints using our effective and cost-efficient Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs). Blue Canyon Technologies SADAs have increased capabilities across their suite of spacecraft. From standard to custom solutions, Blue Canyon has the pointing mechanisms to enable even the most complex of smallsat missions. It has manufactured 90 units and around 20 units are currently operational on-orbit.
Batteries
Blue Canyon’s high-capacity battery packs come with fault protection and heaters for spacecraft use and feature under voltage protection, over current protection and cell balancing. The 1P8S from Blue Canyon Technologies is a Satellite Battery with a nameplate capacity of 3.4 Ah. This battery has an energy of 99 Wh and an operating voltage range of 24-33.6 V. The 2P8S from Blue Canyon Technologies is a Satellite Battery with a nameplate capacity of 6.8Ah. This battery has an energy of 198 Wh and an operating voltage range of 24-33.6 V.
Missions Services
Mission Support
Blue Canyon Technologies’ Mission Support empowers customers to focus on core mission objectives while the company expertly manages spacecraft operations. Through agile, user-friendly interfaces and customer-driven planning, Blue Canyon streamlines on-orbit tasking to ensure precision and efficiency.
With over 40 years of cumulative on-orbit heritage and more than 90,000 supported contacts, their Mission Operations team brings unmatched reliability and expertise to every engagement. From initial deployment through sustained operation, Blue Canyon offers robust mission support that scales with complexity and ambition.
Key Features Include:
- Secure Platform
- Seamless Automation
- Advanced Monitoring
- Comprehensive Pre-Launch and LEOP Support
- Growing Operational Heritage
Integration & Test
BCT is providing advanced testing facilities. As part of their standard suite environment tests, they perform random vibration and thermal vacuum testing. Additional test capabilities include: star simulators, wheel balance apparatus, solar array deployment support hardware, thermal cycle chambers, and a Helmholtz cage.
Mission Operations
The mission operations provides scripts, C&T, and tools used throughout system test & operation, supports multiple missions and constellations, supports multiple ground stations and radios, automated and accessible. It supports automated execution, monitoring, visualization, and data delivery.
