Tag: Propulsion Systems
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Pale Blue to Demonstrate Hall Thruster Technology with Axelspace in 2027
Pale Blue will conduct an in-orbit demonstration of its Hall thruster in 2027. The company has signed a demonstration contract with Axelspace Corporation (Axelspace), which provides in-orbit demonstration services. Pale Blue will perform an in-orbit demonstration of its instantly ignitable compact Hall thruster, the “PBH-100,” in 2027. The “PBH-100” is a thruster designed for 50-200kg…
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Isar Aerospace Advances First Test Flight With Spectrum Launch Vehicle
Isar Aerospace, a European launch-vehicle manufacturer focused on dedicated small-satellite access to space is progressing toward its first test flight of the Spectrum launch vehicle. The test flight represents a major milestone in the company’s development roadmap and forms a critical step toward establishing a commercially available, European-built orbital launch service. The first test flight…
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Benchmark Space System Demonstrates World’s First High-Throughput ASCENT Thruster at AFRL
Benchmark Space Systems has achieved a major propulsion milestone with the successful hotfire demonstration of the 22-Newton ASCENT thruster, marking the first large-scale, sustained burn of the government-developed monopropellant ever conducted. The achievement, validated in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Aerospace Systems Directorate, at Edwards AFB, proves that ASCENT propulsion has transcended…
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Northrop Grumman Tests New SMART Demo Solid Rocket Motor
Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully tested the first of two new solid rocket motors — SMASH!22 and BAMM!29 2.0 — designed and manufactured in 2025 under the SMART Demo program. This milestone marks a key achievement in the project’s most ambitious year by delivering both motors in under 12 months. The static test fire of SMASH!22,…
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Hydron Energy Unveils Carbon-Negative Xenon for Satellite Propulsion
Hydron Energy, a leading innovator in clean fuel and gas separation technologies, announced the successful demonstration of carbon-negative Xenon and Krypton production from air. The initiative focused on the application of Hydron’s next-generation metal-organic framework (MOF) in the company’s INTRUPTor™ gas separation platform for direct air carbon capture in conjunction with Xenon and Krypton production.…
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Northrop Grumman and IHI Signs MoU to Explore Space Propulsion Technology
Northrop Grumman Corporation and IHI AEROSPACE signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore potential collaborative opportunities in propulsion technology for space and national security applications. The companies will focus on exploring innovative propulsion solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers in the U.S., Japan under the strong alliance between both countries. Northrop Grumman…
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Dawn Aerospace to Provide its SatDrive Propulsion System for PAMI-1 Mission
Dawn Aerospace announced it has been selected to provide its SatDrive propulsion system for the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force’s flagship PAMI-1 mission. Critically, the propulsion system will be equipped with Dawn’s Docking and Fluid Transfer (DFT) port, providing the Netherlands with its first sovereign satellite capable of being serviced and refueled in orbit.…
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Dawn Aerospace and Cosmoserve Space Signs MoU to Advance In-Space Refuelling
In a major step towards pushing for a more sustainable space environment, Dawn Aerospace and Cosmoserve Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on enabling sustainable and scalable in-space servicing through refuelling and debris removal technologies. The strategic MoU expresses both parties’ intent to explore future collaboration on integrating Dawn’s refuellable propulsion systems…
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ESA Shortlists Spaceport Cornwall for INVICTUS Hypersonic Test Programme
Spaceport Cornwall, operating from Cornwall Airport Newquay, has been shortlisted by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a potential location for the agency’s pioneering INVICTUS hypersonic flight test programme. This milestone positions Cornwall at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to develop a sovereign hypersonic test capability and accelerate the technologies required for future reusable spaceplanes.…
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Blue Origin Teams Up with OpTech to Deploy Next-Gen Caracal Optical Payload on Blue Ring
Blue Origin announced an agreement with Optimum Technologies (OpTech) to integrate its next-generation Caracal optical payload on board the first mission of Blue Ring, a highly manoeuvrable multi-mission spacecraft designed for payload delivery, hosting, and infrastructure services. Blue Ring’s first mission is expected to launch in 2026 with initial injection into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)…