ION-X develops ionic liquid electrospray thrusters for small spacecraft, providing high thrust and fuel efficiency with non-toxic, non-pressurized propellant. This technology addresses the need for effective propulsion systems in the rapidly growing small satellite market, enabling optimized orbital maneuvers and extended satellite lifespans.
Funding
$17.8M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Small satellites in low Earth orbit require propulsion systems to optimize their utilization and lifespan. Existing propulsion solutions may lack sufficient thrust, fuel efficiency, or operability, hindering orbital maneuvers and limiting mission capabilities.
Solution
ION-X develops ionic liquid electrospray thrusters designed for small spacecraft propulsion. The thrusters deliver high thrust and fuel efficiency using a non-toxic, non-pressurized propellant. ION-X's 1U plug-and-play thruster allows satellite operators to adapt thrust and specific impulse (ISP) in real time, depending on required orbital maneuvers. The system is suited for orbit injection, station keeping, end-of-life management, and debris avoidance maneuvers.
Target Audience
The primary customers are small satellite operators requiring propulsion systems for optimized orbital maneuvers and extended lifespan.
Features
- Unmatched thrust and ISP for its thruster class
- Adaptive and scalable based on mission requirements
- On-demand firing with no warmup period
- Low signature emissions
- Non-toxic, inert propellant with limited pressure requirements
- No external cathode required to neutralize the exhaust plume