Tag: Thrusters
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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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Astroscale Secures Patent to Advance Docking and Servicing of Tumbling Satellites
Astroscale, the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, announces the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,479,603 B2, “Method and Device for Capture of Tumbling Space Objects.” The innovation introduces a novel spacecraft design with an “empty” docking volume and center-of-mass control technique that will allow Astroscale servicers to approach…
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Starfish Space Completes Autonomous LEO Rendezvous & Proximity Operations with Impulse Space
Starfish Space and Impulse Space announced the successful completion of the ‘Remora’ mission, an autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) demonstration in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The Remora mission marked an industry first: a fully autonomous rendezvous executed by Starfish with a single lightweight camera system and closed-loop guidance, navigation and control software running on…
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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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Redwire to Develop Next-Gen Multiaxial Gimbal System to Optimize Antenna Pointing in LEO
Redwire’s Luxembourg team is developing a Multiaxial Gimbal for Antenna Pointing (MGAP) that addresses the evolving needs of the satellite communications market, particularly for innovative and cost-effective directional antenna pointing systems. Current mechanical solutions fail to meet the new requirements for LEO applications, such as tracking range, lead time, and production costs. Developed by Redwire’s team in…
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Portal Space Systems Unveils Starburst Spacecraft for Starburst-1 Mission
Portal Space Systems introduced Starburst, an ESPA-class rapid maneuverability spacecraft, and confirmed Starburst-1 will launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 in Q4 2026 for the company’s first free-flying mission with live payloads. The mission will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), rapid retasking, and rapid orbital change for national security and commercial use cases. Starburst is built to…
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AURA by NewOrbit Space Redefines Propulsion Technology for the Ultra-Low Earth Orbit Missions
Space-technology innovator NewOrbit Space has unveiled AURA, a breakthrough in electric-propulsion technology designed to sustain operations in ultra-low Earth orbit (ULO). This next-generation propulsion engine embodies the company’s vision to open new frontiers in satellite operations and orbital infrastructure. By merging flexible architecture, multi-propellant capability and exceptional energy efficiency, AURA represents a decisive step toward…
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UARX’s OSSIE Spacecraft to Fly Dawn Aerospace’s Docking Port
UARX Space will carry Dawn’s Docking and Fluidic Transfer (DFT) Port for integration on UARX Space’s upcoming OSSIE OTV, launching in 2026. The DFT Port, developed by Dawn Aerospace, is the hardware foundation of the company’s Loop Network: a scalable in-orbit refuelling architecture designed and built in Europe. The mission marks a major step toward…
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Quantum Dynamics Secures US Patent for Breakthrough Propellant-Free Drive System
Quantum Dynamics Enterprises announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially issued U.S. Patent No. 12,424,887, covering the company’s breakthrough Centrifugal Impulse Drive (CID) — the world’s first patented mechanical propulsion system capable of generating thrust without propellant or exhaust gases. The CID represents a major innovation in the field of…
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Astrobotic Technology Delays Griffin-1 Lunar Mission to July 2026
Astrobotic has announced a new target launch window of July 2026 for its Griffin-1 commercial lunar lander mission, an update that shifts the Falcon Heavy launch from its previous timeline. The delay is intended to provide engineers with the necessary time to finalize propulsion system integration and qualify the lander’s engines. The Griffin-1 mission, part…