CU Aerospace, LLC¶
Founded: ~2001, Champaign, IL (UIUC Research Park) | President: Dr. David L. Carroll Sector: Small satellite propulsion, optimization software, advanced composites, cryocoolers
Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 33)
SST Connection¶
CU Aerospace received one SST Tipping Point award — a full flight demo, not a seed grant:
| SST Project | PI | Technology | TRL | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106814 | David L. Carroll | DUPLEX: MVP warm gas + FPPT pulsed plasma dual propulsion CubeSat | 5→8 (target) | Deployed from ISS Dec 2, 2025 |
SST investment: $2.17M (Tipping Point, contract 80ARC020C0001, 2020–2028). This is the largest single SST Tipping Point propulsion award.
The Technology: DUPLEX¶
DUPLEX is a 6U CubeSat carrying two novel micro-propulsion systems that both use solid polymer propellants — eliminating pressurized gas, toxic chemicals, and leaking valves:
MVP — Monofilament Vaporization Propulsion¶
- Propellant: solid Delrin (polyoxymethylene) fiber on a spool
- Feed mechanism adapted from 3D printer technology
- Fiber is fed, pre-melted, de-polymerized, evaporated, and superheated through a supersonic nozzle
- Warm gas category — competitive delta-V with benign storage and handling
FPPT — Fiber-fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster¶
- Propellant: solid Teflon (PTFE) fiber
- High-capacity capacitors produce adjustable plasma pulses
- Variable Isp: 2,400–4,000 s. Throttleable 0–100%
- Non-toxic exhaust, no warmup, on-demand thrust
- Scales to larger spacecraft
Both systems were developed through NASA SBIR funding before the SST Tipping Point flight demo.
Flight: ISS Deployment — December 2, 2025¶
DUPLEX deployed from the International Space Station into low Earth orbit on December 2, 2025. Mission plan: 2 years of on-orbit testing, raising and lowering orbit with both propulsion systems to demonstrate trajectory maintenance capability. Confirmed — NASA press release Dec 2025.
On-orbit status (session 33): NASA confirmed in-space testing has begun. Mission operators are commanding DUPLEX to raise and lower its orbit using both MVP and FPPT propulsion systems. No early performance results published yet. Confidence: confirmed (NASA.gov "Two-in-One Satellite Propulsion Demo Begins In-Space Test").
SBIR Pipeline (Pre-SST Lineage)¶
CU Aerospace built DUPLEX's propulsion technologies through a decade-long SBIR pipeline:
| TechPort Project | Program | Technology | TRL | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16758 | SBIR Phase I | CHIPS warm gas (R134a) | 3→4 | 2013 |
| 17777 | SBIR Phase II | CHIPS warm gas (R134a) | 4→6 | 2014–2017 |
| 102129 | SBIR Phase I | MPUC monopropellant (CMP-8) | 4→5 | 2019–2020 |
| 102847 | SBIR Phase II | MPUC monopropellant (CMP-8) | 4→5 | 2020–2023 |
| 102130 | SBIR Phase I | CubeSail-D deorbit module | 4→5 | 2019–2020 |
Also non-propulsion SBIRs: - 93431: CUA OpenMP nonlinear optimization tool (trajectory design) — SBIR I, 2017 - 89921: Microcapillary recuperative heat exchanger (cryocoolers) — SBIR I, 2016
SBIR evolution: CHIPS (warm gas, 2013) → MVP (Delrin variant) → DUPLEX (flight demo, 2025). The FPPT line runs parallel: NASA SBIR Phase II (80NSSC18C0063, $1.13M, 2018–2022) → DUPLEX integration.
Post-SST Follow-on (Downstream Impact)¶
FPPT for Active Debris Removal¶
- Contract: 80NSSC23CA214, $2.64M, 2023–2026
- FPPT technology from DUPLEX → debris removal application
- Confidence: confirmed (USASpending record)
Quick Turn Pulsed Plasma Thruster (QT-PPT)¶
- Contract: 80NSSC23CA090, $900K, 2023–2026
- Deorbiting application for end-of-life CubeSats in LEO
- Confidence: confirmed (USASpending record)
USAF Propulsion Heritage¶
- Contract: FA930011C0007, $3.68M, 2011–2015 — "Liquid Rocket Engine Technology Development: Propulsion Unit for CubeSats (PUC)"
- Pre-SST USAF investment shows DoD recognized CUA propulsion before NASA SST
- Also: Navy ($1.0M, 2021–2023) — "Transforming the Battlespace: Space Systems"
- Confidence: confirmed (USASpending)
Federal Footprint¶
USASpending Summary (25 visible awards)¶
| Agency | Estimated Total | Key Programs |
|---|---|---|
| NASA | ~$14M | DUPLEX Tipping Point ($2.17M), FPPT ADR ($2.64M), QT-PPT ($900K), 8+ SBIRs ($755K each) |
| USAF | ~$9.6M | LRETD PUC ($3.68M), combustion control, cryocooler, rotorcraft |
| MDA | ~$2.5M | Cryocooler ($1.49M), early SBIR ($1.0M) |
| Navy | ~$1.0M | Space systems ($1.0M) |
| DoI/Other | ~$1.5M | Geosynchronous platform ($1.51M) |
| Total visible | ~$28.6M |
Note: CUA's propulsion work predates SST. The USAF PUC contract (2011, $3.68M) shows DoD was the first major funder.
NTRS / Publications¶
- No NTRS records found for CU Aerospace or David Carroll with these search terms
- SmallSat Conference papers likely exist but not in NTRS index
- CUA website lists 6 micro-propulsion technologies for small satellites
- Confidence: suggestive (no direct publication count available)
Commercial Products¶
CU Aerospace is a hybrid technology company — propulsion AND software:
Propulsion systems: - MVP (Monofilament Vaporization Propulsion) — warm gas - FPPT (Fiber-fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster) — electric - CHIPS (CubeSat High Impulse Propulsion System) — warm gas - MPUC (Monopropellant Propulsion Unit for CubeSats) — chemical - QT-PPT (Quick Turn PPT) — deorbiting
Software products: - THERMOSYS — MATLAB thermal modeling toolbox - BLAZE-VI — multiphysics simulation software - NLParOPT — parallel nonlinear optimization (trajectory design)
Advanced materials: - VascTech — microvascular composite technology (self-healing, thermal management)
Pattern: SBIR Pipeline to Flight Demo¶
CU Aerospace exemplifies the long-burn SBIR-to-flight pipeline:
2011: USAF PUC contract ($3.68M) — first major propulsion R&D
2013: NASA SBIR I — CHIPS warm gas (R134a) concept
2014: NASA SBIR II — CHIPS ground validation
2017: NASA SBIR II — MVP (Delrin variant)
2018: NASA SBIR II — FPPT pulsed plasma
2020: SST Tipping Point ($2.17M) — DUPLEX flight unit build
2023: Post-SST follow-on — FPPT for debris removal ($2.64M)
2025: ISS deployment — both MVP and FPPT operating on orbit
12 years from first SBIR to flight. But the SST role was specific: it funded the flight demo that neither SBIR nor DoD could provide. SBIR built the technology; SST validated it in space.
Connections¶
- NearSpace Launch: DUPLEX integration partner and launch services
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Academic partner, UIUC Research Park host
- NASA Ames Research Center: SST managing center for DUPLEX
- Busek Co.: Parallel SST propulsion portfolio company — both received 2014-era SST seeds, but Busek's seeds were 10× smaller ($200K vs $2.17M)
Assessment¶
Outcome category: flew (ISS deployment Dec 2025, on orbit) Infusion quality: High — DUPLEX successfully deployed, post-SST contracts continuing the technology line Archetype: SBIR Pipeline to Flight Demo — long SBIR development funded ground validation; SST provided the flight opportunity that neither SBIR nor DoD programs could Leverage ratio: Moderate — $2.17M SST into a $28.6M total federal portfolio. SST was the flight-enabling piece.