Collaboration Announced for Innovative Thruster Demo
Collaboration Announced for Innovative Thruster Demo
Magdrive Rogue Thruster to be Demonstrated on D-Orbit ION Satellite Carrier
On the first day of the Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah, Magdrive, a space startup focusing on innovative electrical propulsion systems, and D-Orbit, market leader in the space logistics industry, announced a collaboration for Magdrive’s first in-orbit demonstration mission of the Magdrive Rogue propulsion thruster, slated for a June 2025 launch.
“This mission is the first step to unlocking entirely new capabilities in high cadence avoidance maneuvers, sustained RPO, and anti-SDA activity for defense in space."
Mark Stokes, Magdrive
The Magdrive Rogue is a next-generation electrical propulsion system, providing thrust of up to 30 mN with the same high specific impulse as existing electric propulsion systems. Magdrive will be deploying two Rogues onboard D-Orbit’s ION platform to showcase its ability to scale multiple units as an array to serve satellites of any mass class. The Magdrive Rogue couples its high thrust with the high efficiencies that electric propulsion systems are known for. The fundamental difference is the use of a solid metal propellant instead of a gas (i.e. Hall Effect Thrusters), and the use of internal energy storage to ionize the solid metal into a hot plasma for a higher thrust performance.
“This mission is the first step to unlocking entirely new capabilities in high cadence avoidance maneuvers, sustained RPO, and anti-SDA activity for defense in space," said Mark Stokes, CEO of Magdrive. "We are also extremely grateful to have the support of ESA via their ScaleUp program for making this mission possible.”
Magdrive Rogue will be tested onboard D-Orbit’s proprietary OTV, ION Satellite Carrier. With its proven heritage of 13 successful orbital transportation missions to date, and over 40 hosted payloads already tested in orbit, Magdrive identified ION as the ideal technology to test their electrical propulsion system
ESA's dedication to fostering advancements and innovations in the space industry and perfectly fits within ION's scope and capabilities." This mission is supported by ESA’s “ScaleUp” program, which enables SMEs to rapidly commercialize their products for the space industry. “I am pleased to see this deal happen between Magdrive and D-Orbit through ESA’s ScaleUp program,” said Philip Thomas, Head of ScaleUp Program Division. “I trust this collaboration will prove fruitful and help both companies achieve even bigger milestones.”