ThrustMe and Turion Space have announced the selection of the ThrustMe’s iodine electric propulsion system for the DROID.002 spacecraft.
Turion Space will integrate several ThrustMe NPT30-I2-1.5U thrusters to enable the maneuverability for orbit raising and end-of-life disposal to its space-debris observation and characterization mission. The DROID.002 mission serves as the initial asset of a small constellation designed to provide continuous debris monitoring and alert services, known as “resiliency” services.
The mission also aims to generate a deeper understanding of space debris, assisting LEO operators and other debris mitigation companies. To ensure the success of the mission, it will rely on ThrustMe’s NPT30-I2-1.5U thrusters as a key component.
Designed for the nexgen of industrialized satellites, the NPT30-I2 series is composed of intelligent, turnkey, electric propulsion systems that uses solid iodine propellant for satellites ranging from 10 to 300 kg. It provides the high total impulse required by these satellites for deployment, significant orbit changes, collision avoidance maneuvers, and end-of-life removal to minimize space debris and free up critical operational orbits.
This contract confirms ThrustMe’s electric propulsion systems market fit in a worldwide competitive environment and extend the company footprint in the U.S. and adds up to the undisclosed international and U.S. contracts won by ThrustMe. With seven systems already in space. and more than 80 orders, the ThrustMe production line is up with a capacity of 365 propulsion systems per year to be reached by Q1 2024.
“Incorporating ThrustMe’s propulsion into our satellites will enable us to efficiently maneuver to higher orbits where the debris is more prevalent and less tracked. The very high total impulse packed into the 1.5U volume was decisive in the process of choosing the NPT30-I2-1.5U for our satellites.”
— Ryan Westerdahl, co-founder and CEO of Turion Space
“We are very happy to provide our propulsion systems to Turion Space. Their mission is very important for the industry and aligned with our ambition to enable a sustainable use of space.”
— Ane Aanesland, co-founder and CEO of ThrustMe
ThrustMe is the go-to provider of high-performing in-orbit space propulsion and space hardware testing solutions for customers across the globe. It offers a portfolio of disruptive, deeply integrated and smart in-orbit space propulsion solutions designed for the new industrialized constellation space era. The company made the world’s first demonstration of an iodine-fueled electric propulsion system in space —- an achievement the space industry has tried to reach for more than 60 years. ThrustMe is now delivering propulsion systems to major satellite constellations and is offering support, from ground testing to on-orbit maneuvering strategies.
Turion Space was formed with the vision of building the technology required for humanity’s interplanetary future. To achieve this goal, Turion Space is building LEO spacecraft to move things around in space and gather Space Domain Awareness (SDA) data, ensuring continuous value generation. Turion Space aims to build the highest delta-V per dollar space transport vehicles and is launching the DROID.001 mission in 2023 and DROID.002 in 2024.
