Superconducting Magnetorquer for Spacecraft Control: Zenno Astronautics

A superconducting magnetorquer is an innovative idea for controlling spacecraft without the use of fuel. On this edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talks with Max Arshavsky, CEO of Zenno Astronautics, a New Zealand startup developing just such an attitude control system, and other space applications.

The Zenno system is the first superconducting magnetorquer for spacecraft attitude control that uses no fuel, just a magnetic field to move spacecraft in Earth's orbit. The company successfully raised $6.8 million USD in a seed round in 2022, with double that on reserve ready to draw if they require it - making Zenno the company that has raised the biggest seed in New Zealand history. As of May 2023 has secured around $48 million USD in pre-sales.

Built on technologies with significant heritage, Z01 is a new approach to spacecraft attitude control which bypasses many of the limitations of traditional magnetic attitude control systems. Like a conventional magnetorquer, Z01 interacts with the ambient magnetic field of the Earth to generate a torque on a spacecraft.

Unlike anything that is currently available, Z01 uses high-temperature superconducting coils to eliminate Ohmic losses, allowing for extremely high currents and continuous operation at peak dipole moment.

Initial Superconducting Magnetorquer is for Attitude Control

"We're concentrating on pointing a spacecraft rather than moving a spacecraft with respect to Earth," Arshavsky said. "When we have two magnetic fields interact with each other, you get torque if the magnetic fields are not aligned."

Zenno Astronautics' hardware and software products ensure satellite missions are effectively managed, guaranteeing maximum economic returns and responsible use of space.

How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.