CarboNIX

CarboNIX is an Exolaunch microsatellite separation system for orbital deployment of small satellites and microsatellites up to 500 kg.^[1][2] The family uses a non-pyrotechnic, shock-free ring separation architecture with linked synchronous spring pusher arms, and the separation velocity is tailored by spring energy and satellite mass.^[1] Exolaunch offers 8 inch, 11.732 inch, 15 inch, 18.25 inch, 24 inch, and custom diameter configurations, with spring count and ring geometry varying by size.^[1] Brown, black, and green spring options provide separation energy values of 0.7, 1.3, and 2.25 J or 1.1, 2.2, and 3.7 J depending on configuration.^[1] Deployment dynamics include average tip-off of 0.6 deg/s across axes and no axis above 2 deg/s in customer data.^[1] CarboNIX had its first on-orbit demonstration in 2019 and had deployed more than 70 customer satellites by June 2024.^[1] Exolaunch used 8 inch and 24 inch CarboNIX systems on the IM-2 mission deployment hardware set in February 2025.^[3] The product is designed and manufactured in Europe and is ITAR-free launch hardware.^[1]