Public Funding for Magdrive Ltd

The Magdrive Nano is a revolutionary electric plasma thruster capable of both high thrust and high efficiency for satellites and deep space transport. The Magdrive Nano reduces the required propellant for satellite lifetimes and manoeuvres. This makes new missions possible for small and large companies from startups to industry primes, such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, long term constellation management, and deployment and deorbiting for satellites of all sizes without reducing satellite lifetimes. Magdrive Ltd is partnering with Open Cosmos, a space mission provider based at Harwell Campus that provides end-to-end space missions. To benefit from the latest technologies, Open Cosmos assists hardware developers to design and integrate their hardware into nanosatellites, using affordable development hardware called OpenKit and software which the developer can use in their own premises. The collaborative goal is to complete integration of our systems to qualify the equipment to later reach 'flight-proven' heritage essential to commercialise a new product. Open Cosmos (OC) is a space mission provider, aggregating the satellite together with launch and operation services supported by launch providers and ground station providers. This opens up the new space market to hardware developers, who can focus on developing their products. There is increasing concern regarding Space Junk which is leading to market demand for small satellites to be fitted with miniaturised propulsion systems. This is particularly relevant to the large constellation customers. It is also a highly competitive and price sensitive market requiring a novel 'off-the-shelf' solution that can be manufactured at high volume and low cost. By partnering, our two organisations will be able to offer the market an integrated satellite solution to customers requiring propulsion for longer mission lifetime or constellation deployment and maintenance. This is particularly time sensitive as the majority of large constellations are planned to launch in the next four years.

The Magdrive Nano is a revolutionary electric plasma thruster capable of both high thrust and high efficiency for satellites and deep space transport. The Magdrive Nano reduces the required propellant for satellite lifetimes and manoeuvres. This makes new missions possible for small and large companies from startups to industry primes, such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, long term constellation management, and deployment and deorbiting for satellites of all sizes without reducing satellite lifetimes. Magdrive Ltd is partnering with Open Cosmos, a space mission provider based at Harwell Campus that provides end-to-end space missions. To benefit from the latest technologies, Open Cosmos assists hardware developers to design and integrate their hardware into nanosatellites, using affordable development hardware called OpenKit and software which the developer can use in their own premises. The collaborative goal is to complete integration of our systems to qualify the equipment to later reach 'flight-proven' heritage essential to commercialise a new product. Open Cosmos (OC) is a space mission provider, aggregating the satellite together with launch and operation services supported by launch providers and ground station providers. This opens up the new space market to hardware developers, who can focus on developing their products. There is increasing concern regarding Space Junk which is leading to market demand for small satellites to be fitted with miniaturised propulsion systems. This is particularly relevant to the large constellation customers. It is also a highly competitive and price sensitive market requiring a novel 'off-the-shelf' solution that can be manufactured at high volume and low cost. By partnering, our two organisations will be able to offer the market an integrated satellite solution to customers requiring propulsion for longer mission lifetime or constellation deployment and maintenance. This is particularly time sensitive as the majority of large constellations are planned to launch in the next four years.

The Magdrive Nano is a revolutionary electric plasma thruster capable of both high thrust and high efficiency for satellites and deep space transport. The Magdrive Nano reduces the required propellant for satellite lifetimes and manoeuvres. This makes new missions possible for small and large companies from startups to industry primes, such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, long term constellation management, and deployment and deorbiting for satellites of all sizes without reducing satellite lifetimes. Magdrive Ltd is partnering with Open Cosmos, a space mission provider based at Harwell Campus that provides end-to-end space missions. To benefit from the latest technologies, Open Cosmos assists hardware developers to design and integrate their hardware into nanosatellites, using affordable development hardware called OpenKit and software which the developer can use in their own premises. The collaborative goal is to complete integration of our systems to qualify the equipment to later reach 'flight-proven' heritage essential to commercialise a new product. Open Cosmos (OC) is a space mission provider, aggregating the satellite together with launch and operation services supported by launch providers and ground station providers. This opens up the new space market to hardware developers, who can focus on developing their products. There is increasing concern regarding Space Junk which is leading to market demand for small satellites to be fitted with miniaturised propulsion systems. This is particularly relevant to the large constellation customers. It is also a highly competitive and price sensitive market requiring a novel 'off-the-shelf' solution that can be manufactured at high volume and low cost. By partnering, our two organisations will be able to offer the market an integrated satellite solution to customers requiring propulsion for longer mission lifetime or constellation deployment and maintenance. This is particularly time sensitive as the majority of large constellations are planned to launch in the next four years.

The Magdrive Nano is a revolutionary electric plasma thruster capable of both high thrust and high efficiency for satellites and deep space transport. The Magdrive Nano reduces the required propellant for satellite lifetimes and manoeuvres. This makes new missions possible for small and large companies from startups to industry primes, such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, long term constellation management, and deployment and deorbiting for satellites of all sizes without reducing satellite lifetimes. Magdrive Ltd is partnering with Open Cosmos, a space mission provider based at Harwell Campus that provides end-to-end space missions. To benefit from the latest technologies, Open Cosmos assists hardware developers to design and integrate their hardware into nanosatellites, using affordable development hardware called OpenKit and software which the developer can use in their own premises. The collaborative goal is to complete integration of our systems to qualify the equipment to later reach 'flight-proven' heritage essential to commercialise a new product. Open Cosmos (OC) is a space mission provider, aggregating the satellite together with launch and operation services supported by launch providers and ground station providers. This opens up the new space market to hardware developers, who can focus on developing their products. There is increasing concern regarding Space Junk which is leading to market demand for small satellites to be fitted with miniaturised propulsion systems. This is particularly relevant to the large constellation customers. It is also a highly competitive and price sensitive market requiring a novel 'off-the-shelf' solution that can be manufactured at high volume and low cost. By partnering, our two organisations will be able to offer the market an integrated satellite solution to customers requiring propulsion for longer mission lifetime or constellation deployment and maintenance. This is particularly time sensitive as the majority of large constellations are planned to launch in the next four years.

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Magdrive is developing a revolutionary space propulsion system for small satellites. This system will operate with the high efficiency of electric propulsion while providing the high thrust advantage seen with chemical propulsion systems which still currently dominate the market. This allows for cheaper satellite launch through improved fuel efficiency, future-proofing satellite operators against legislation to enforce de-orbiting, and enable new mission types such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, constellation management, and operations in very low Earth orbit. The small size of the Magdrive thruster will allow for small satellites to be used for significantly more applications, reducing the cost of space applications and the barriers to entry to this industry. As well as servicing the needs of established operators, this will allow smaller companies, start-ups and universities to conduct missions in space on smaller budgets, helping to drive UK innovation in space. Magdrive has joined the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre and has secured VC backing from Entrepreneur First. Magdrive has reached a major milestone with the completion of its first component prototype. This has been possible thanks to a grant from the Westcott Business Incubation Centre. Magdrive has demonstrated the use of a miniaturised and compact pulsed power system to create the plasma for the Magdrive thruster. This plasma has been created in a vacuum and contained with magnetic fields generated by specifically designed magnetic coils.