{"id":54994,"date":"2022-07-25T20:29:13","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/smallsats-drive-the-push-for-nimbler-propulsion-options\/"},"modified":"2022-07-25T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T12:29:13","slug":"smallsats-drive-the-push-for-nimbler-propulsion-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/smallsats-drive-the-push-for-nimbler-propulsion-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Smallsats Drive the Push for Nimbler Propulsion Options"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the missions and business cases for smallsats evolve and grow, smallsat propulsion is innovating to keep up. Smallsats need more flexibility and maneuverability, and access to multiple orbits. How are changing mission requirements affecting propulsion requirements and what technologies are poised to disrupt the industry?<\/p>\n<p>According to Mike Cassidy, founder of Apollo Fusion and now VP of product development for Astra, missions require more propulsion today than in the past for several reasons, including the increasingly charged geopolitical landscape.  <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/glKjNrkIRYJagLl2ySzF_VS_080122_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/glKjNrkIRYJagLl2ySzF_VS_080122_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/glKjNrkIRYJagLl2ySzF_VS_080122_DGTL_Cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/glKjNrkIRYJagLl2ySzF_VS_080122_DGTL_Cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/glKjNrkIRYJagLl2ySzF_VS_080122_DGTL_Cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the August 2022 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p> \u201cWith the tragedy in Ukraine and other places, there\u2019s certainly some fear that you might need to have satellites that are more mobile so they are more survivable,\u201d Cassidy says.<\/p>\n<p>Scenarios by bad actors could include launching an anti-satellite system or targeting the satellite with a laser or cyber-attack, notes Riskaware, a U.K.-based incident modeling solutions provider.<\/p>\n<p>Another reason is the fact that new spacecraft are mandated to de-orbit at the end of mission life to help minimize space junk. In addition, spacecraft are flying lower than ever because the closer they fly to the ground, the better image resolution and throughput speed they\u2019ll have. However, low-flying performance gains come at a price. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c2e69;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c2e69 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c2e6a').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c2e6a'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p> \u201cThe advantages of flying lower are great but [it requires] more propulsion,\u201d says Cassidy.<\/p>\n<p>As the industry moves from cubesats to larger and heavier small satellites, operators will need more power and more propulsion to perform their mission, whether it\u2019s for orbit raising, station keeping, collision avoidance, or de-orbiting a satellite at end of life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs small satellites become larger and more powerful, it drives the need for increased propulsion performance,\u201d says Armen Askijian, chief technology officer of Airbus U.S. Space &amp; Defense.  Airbus is half of the joint venture overseeing manufacturing of OneWeb\u2019s broadband constellation. \u201cUpcoming and next generation LEO [Low-Earth Orbit] constellations are pushing towards more capable satellites to meet their mission needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Historically, satellite operators have relied on chemical propulsion, which delivers high thrust in a short period of time.  Prior to 1981, virtually all satellites that carried propulsion used chemical propellant, explains Andy Hoskins, in-space propulsion manager for Aerojet Rocketdyne, who previously served as chief technologist for Electric Propulsion, based at the company\u2019s Redmond, Washington, facility.<\/p>\n<p>But as smaller spacecraft operators eye cost-effective access to Low-Earth Orbit, another option is growing in popularity: electric propulsion (EP).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince 2019, a lot more satellites in LEO, especially very small satellites, have been using EP in increasing numbers,\u201d says Hoskins, noting that all the large constellation providers such as Starlink and OneWeb have opted for electric. <\/p>\n<p>However, electric isn\u2019t exclusive to just large LEOs. According to Hoskins, GEO satellite operators over the last 20 years have leveraged both options, with about half of GEO satellites using at least some electric propulsion (often for station keeping) and half relying only on chemical propulsion. But the fuel-efficiency advantages of electric propulsion for station keeping are clear regardless of the orbit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElectric propulsion enables you to stay in orbit longer and do maneuvers. But if you want to break free of Earth\u2019s gravity in a meaningful way, chemical propulsion is the way to do it,\u201d observes Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, which has expanded its focus beyond launch into space systems, including powerful, lightweight chemical propulsion systems. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xFUhor0SAu5sOL8FbHAg_Rocket_Lab_Lunar_Photon.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">Rocket LabRocket Lab\u2019s lunar Photon spacecraft used in NASA\u2019s CAPSTONE Mission. The spacecraft is built to harness the sun\u2019s energy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Chemical\u2019s Power Play  <\/h3>\n<p>Since 2017, RocketLab has deployed 147 satellites to orbit for customers across the U.S. government, including a recent pathfinding mission to lunar orbit for NASA\u2019s Artemis program.  The same model of spacecraft will be used in a Venus mission tentatively scheduled for 2023 to explore potential life on Mars. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c33ae;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c33ae = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c33af').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c33af'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The vertically integrated company developed an entirely new propulsion system that is \u201con-orbit storable and non-toxic, with crazy high performance,\u201d says Beck, explaining that typical systems must pressurize propellant to force it into the rocket engine. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe built these little electric pumps that pump it into the engine. In between the burns the sun recharges all the batteries for these pumps. We\u2019re harnessing the sun\u2019s energy to create the energy to then run the rocket engine,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>According to Beck, flying to the Moon using electric propulsion is possible, but it would take months, whereas chemical propulsion \u201ccan get you on your way in a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For many space companies eyeing LEO opportunities, electrical propulsion, which uses electrical energy to accelerate propellant to create thrust, is the answer. Complexity and cost are both factors when deciding which propulsion approach is best.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElectrical propulsion is more complex, so it\u2019s more expensive typically than a chemical propulsion system,\u201d notes Hoskins.<\/p>\n<p>If a satellite needs to do a lot of thrusting for a long period of time, or change its velocity a large amount, electric propulsion might be the better option since it holds a bigger tank of gas, Hoskins says.<\/p>\n<h3>Slower Maneuvering Electric Propulsion Dominates in LEO <\/h3>\n<p>\u201cPropulsion is critical for LEO constellations because people are worried about responsible use of space and not creating space debris. Being able to deorbit your own satellites actively and reliably is a critical requirement coming from both the U.S. government customers and also commercial customers,\u201d notes Askijian.<\/p>\n<p>Electric propulsion is everywhere these days because it provides high efficiency with low mass. It also eliminates the hazardous materials used in chemical propulsion.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s proven true for OneWeb, which has launched 428 of its planned 648 LEO satellites to date using electric propulsion. Askijian says a significant challenge was rethinking propulsion to fit the LEO business model, which requires the spacecraft, including propulsion, to be built under much shorter lead times without sacrificing quality.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c388c;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c388c = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c388d').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c388d'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnytime you\u2019re constrained in mass and volume and you have to pack in a lot of complexity, the solution can be a challenge from a design perspective,\u201d he explains.  <\/p>\n<p>Airbus engineers designed OneWeb\u2019s electric propulsion module to be assembled and tested in-house at the company\u2019s production facility on the Space Coast in Merritt Island, Florida. The company subcontracted the components in the propulsion module, but its in-house team handles all the mechanical and electrical testing and integration. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Florida operations include propellant loading, which eliminates the need to handle propellant at the launch base,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Astra, another electrical propulsion player, offers flexible configurations to handle a range of missions since acquiring Apollo Fusion last year. To date, the company has sold over 80 systems to customers such as Spaceflight, York Space Systems, and LeoStella.  According to Cassidy, the days of taking six to nine months to design a propulsion system and another six months to build and test it are long gone. Rapid iteration is the key.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping pace with the number of planned LEO launches, an estimated 20,000 satellites in the next 10 years, requires a new approach to aerospace design, Cassidy explains. He leverages his prior experience at Google, a company known for innovating fast, to help build Astra into \u201ca new type of space company\u201d that iterates rapidly.<\/p>\n<p>The team leverages ground-based vacuum chambers to test thruster performance for their Astra Spacecraft Engine.  Astra combines this rapid iteration with \u201cvery high-end electronics simulation in addition to thermal, vibration and structural load simulations.\u201d To deliver engines to customers, Cassidy says it was not uncommon for the team to \u201cfind something out on Monday, make a design change on Tuesday and have a new version of a thruster up by Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Increasing Propellant Demand<\/h3>\n<p>A big piece of the propulsion equation is the propellant. Hall thrusters rely most commonly on xenon and krypton. They use electric current and these gases to propel a craft through space. Askijian has seen xenon, used in OneWeb\u2019s satellites, increase in price significantly, in part from the conflict in the Ukraine, which is a heavy supplier of the noble gas. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s no propellant out there that we\u2019re seeing a reduction in demand for. Everything\u2019s just increasing,\u201d he says, adding that his firm is looking at alternative propulsion sources, including krypton.<\/p>\n<p>The cost and shortage of traditional electric propulsion propellants has given rise to alternatives such as iodine and even water, though the industry has yet to choose a clear winner, notes Mitchell Walker, professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and director of NASA\u2019s Joint Advanced Propulsion Institute (JANUS).<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c3dc6;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c3dc6 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c3dc7').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c3dc7'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith smallsats, the correct propellant has not been identified,\u201d says Mitchell, who notes that traditional diagnostics are not designed to work with molecular or condensable propellants, which has led the industry to use new diagnostics tools that \u201cgo after the physics of these devices so that we can understand how they will perform.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LkaX5Nr4SWikzUdj42Li_Miles_Space_2.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">Miles Space The Miles Space M1.4 Thruster with ConstantQ propulsion technology uses a pulse process that converts electricity and water vapor into thrust.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Promising Alternatives: Iodine, Water, and Nuclear <\/h3>\n<p>ThrustMe, a deep tech company founded in 2017 by two Ecole Polytechnique and CNRS plasma physicists, began by building xenon systems before opting for iodine, which ThrustMe found to take up half the space with 50 percent less cost. ThrustMe launched the first all-iodine-propelled satellite into orbit in 2019 with partner Spacety. <\/p>\n<p>That historic flight didn\u2019t use plasma, but today the French firm has five iodine-based plasma systems in space and has developed 10 more systems for Earth observation, SAR, and LEO constellation operators. The company is betting big on iodine as the next enabling propellant for assuring space sustainability. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompared to classical propellants, the pressure of our storage is almost zero because iodine is solid,\u201d says CTO Dmytro Rafalskyi, who explains that the propellant also comes prefilled to customers, which simplifies and streamlines the satellite integration process.<\/p>\n<p>Rafalskyi credits his firm\u2019s success to date with how much material science has moved forward compared with the past. These advances have enabled his team to validate their system through ground testing and modeling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got the tools for analysis of samples \u2026 and the ability to do powerful simulations when we need it,\u201d he says, citing significant telemetry data on how the propellant has performed.<\/p>\n<p>Water, another promising propellant for smallsats, is coming into its own thanks to companies like Miles Space.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe feel that the market really wants water \u2013 I\u2019d like to see a future in deep space with our power efficiency where water is a common byproduct,\u201d says Miles Space CEO Wes Faler. <\/p>\n<p>He says a key challenge is finding propulsion sources that are power efficient and use minimal fuel while supplying enough thrust to get a satellite to its final orbit.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c4222;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c4222 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c4223').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c4223'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>His firm\u2019s M1.4 Thruster with ConstantQ propulsion technology \u2013 developed over two years on a computer using basic electronics modeling and a simulator \u2013 uses a pulse process that converts electricity and water vapor into thrust. The system serves as a \u201csafe, energy-efficient and inexpensive propellant,\u201d Faler explains. <\/p>\n<p>Current Hall-effects thrusters use solar panels to power them. But as satellites venture into deep space where power drops off exponentially, they move further away from the Earth and their power source \u2013 the Sun. Faler says the same thrust his system needs 10 or 20 watts to do, a Hall-effect thruster requires 1,000 watts. This \u201cmulti-phenomenon thrust\u201d operates in a pulse cycle that makes it extremely efficient.<\/p>\n<p>Miles Space is working with customer RocketStar, which wants to leverage the thruster as it designs a single-stage-to-orbit aerospike rocket that can fly again two weeks after launch.  <\/p>\n<p>Nuclear also shows promise for missions in deep space. Cassidy says Apollo Fusion, now Astra, has experimented with nuclear fusion, which is very dense and can provide a lot of capability for a small amount of weight. <\/p>\n<p>The challenges, however, include meeting regulatory and safety standards for launching and flying radioactive material. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNuclear is where you can have the advantage of chemical and electric in one, but the barrier to entry is very high,\u201d says Beck. \u201cThere\u2019s no operational systems yet, but nuclear is the next step,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n<h3>Exploring Hybrid Systems<\/h3>\n<p>Missions to LEO need cost-effective transportation, which is why rideshares are common. But this approach requires secondary propulsion on the satellite to get it into their value-added orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Hybrid systems that feature the best of chemical and electrical propulsion are one concept the government is exploring. Yet some propulsion experts see a downside to that approach because of the added complexity of such systems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA key tenant of spacecraft design for LEO constellations is to keep things simple and lower cost. Adding that complexity is usually in the wrong direction,\u201d argues Askijian.  <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c4723;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6983d0c4723 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c4724').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6983d0c4724'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHybrid systems are the holy grail \u2013 certainly the DoD [Department of Defense] and national security space would like something that is multimode where you can get higher thrust,\u201d notes Hoskins of Aerojet Rocketdyne. \u201cThe jury\u2019s out on whether a multimode type of thruster is best for everything. A lot of conventional spacecraft have very specialized propulsion,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>Aerojet Rocketdyne is most known for large-thrust engines such as the RS-25 engines that will power NASA\u2019s Space Launch System rocket, but the company\u2019s in-space propulsion systems have helped power missions to \u201cevery planet in our solar system, the International Space Station and interstellar space,\u201d according to Hoskins.  These days the company also is investing heavily in smallsat propulsion technology. He indicates that the birth of large-scale LEO constellations led Aerojet Rocketdyne to see a market for smaller spacecraft propulsion. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople know us for our big engines, but we have a whole group outside of Seattle that does in-space propulsion \u2013 engines up to about 600 pounds of thrust down to a fraction of a pound of thrust,\u201d he says. The company has delivered over 21,000 in-space propulsion systems to date.<\/p>\n<p>To Askijian, electric propulsion remains the way forward, especially in LEO. \u201cIt\u2019s a critical technology for constellation development from a space debris perspective, from an enabling a mission perspective. It\u2019s one of the most important areas of technological development that needs to occur to continue with the constellation growth and development of the space industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But experts agree getting propulsion systems built, tested and deployed is not cheap and given the demands for multiple LEO spacecraft to support constellation buildouts, industry players are looking for ways to innovate faster.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy says Astra\u2019s engineering team is looking to replace expensive, custom tanks with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) material for Astra\u2019s four-part thruster system. He envisions a future where space customers will be able to select the exact size tank needed to support a specific impulse, similar to building a propulsion system using Legos.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re probably 30 to 40 percent of the way there from where we were 10 years ago. In another three or four years we\u2019ll probably be 70 to 80 percent of the way there. I think components that are plug and play are the future,\u201d he says. <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405310:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qccJECHQQcKH8o5O1cX2_VS_080122_DGTL_5-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qccJECHQQcKH8o5O1cX2_VS_080122_DGTL_5-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qccJECHQQcKH8o5O1cX2_VS_080122_DGTL_5-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qccJECHQQcKH8o5O1cX2_VS_080122_DGTL_5-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qccJECHQQcKH8o5O1cX2_VS_080122_DGTL_5.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t10 Smallsat Startups to Watch<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405342:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OX9dCZ9hTGiun2nzBkWh_VS_080122_DGTL_Tech_Focus-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OX9dCZ9hTGiun2nzBkWh_VS_080122_DGTL_Tech_Focus-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OX9dCZ9hTGiun2nzBkWh_VS_080122_DGTL_Tech_Focus-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OX9dCZ9hTGiun2nzBkWh_VS_080122_DGTL_Tech_Focus-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OX9dCZ9hTGiun2nzBkWh_VS_080122_DGTL_Tech_Focus.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tLaunching Innovation to Orbit<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405332:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kWVvD7EWQ1K9027NuHKB_Opinion.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tRadio Frequency is the Next Competitive Edge for Commercial Satellites<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405314:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7rAubEYQ72K0692ujVIz_VS_080122_DGTL_2-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7rAubEYQ72K0692ujVIz_VS_080122_DGTL_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7rAubEYQ72K0692ujVIz_VS_080122_DGTL_2-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7rAubEYQ72K0692ujVIz_VS_080122_DGTL_2-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7rAubEYQ72K0692ujVIz_VS_080122_DGTL_2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tRent This Space: The Business Model of Space as a Service<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405322:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BPVuprL2S2WsWPbsuIGQ_VS_080122_DGTL_4-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BPVuprL2S2WsWPbsuIGQ_VS_080122_DGTL_4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BPVuprL2S2WsWPbsuIGQ_VS_080122_DGTL_4-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BPVuprL2S2WsWPbsuIGQ_VS_080122_DGTL_4-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BPVuprL2S2WsWPbsuIGQ_VS_080122_DGTL_4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSpace-Based Shortcuts Advance in the Last-Mile Connectivity Race Against Fiber<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405335:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JPWuDzh7SbyQplT7Gkkd_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JPWuDzh7SbyQplT7Gkkd_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JPWuDzh7SbyQplT7Gkkd_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JPWuDzh7SbyQplT7Gkkd_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JPWuDzh7SbyQplT7Gkkd_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tVia Smallsat: Yes, We Really Did Call it That<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405327:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nZ9CqDHBRhKfwgMD2afa_Opinion.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tWhat Happens Next in the Smallsat Revolution?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the missions and business cases for smallsats evolve and grow, smallsat propulsion is innovating to keep up. Smallsats need more flexibility and maneuverability, and access to multiple orbits. How are changing mission requirements affecting propulsion requirements and what technologies are poised to disrupt the industry? According to Mike Cassidy, founder of Apollo Fusion and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54995,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54994"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54994\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}