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The space industry seeks new solutions to ensure economic and environmental space sustainability with the rise of satellite mega-constellations. A solution lies in the use of in-orbit propulsion, but traditional systems are not fit for the New Space paradigm. Today, ThrustMe announces that they have successfully tested the first iodine-fuelled electric propulsion system in space aboard the Beihangkongshi-1 satellite. This world first in-orbit demonstration has the potential to transform the space industry.

ThrustMe and a commercial client today announced a new space launch, the 3rd in an ongoing series. This time ThrustMe client launched their Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, Hisea-1, which is the world’s first commercial C-band small satellite SAR with a phased-array antenna. On board is ThrustMe’s Iodine Electric Propulsion system to provide the satellite with crucial orbit maintenance, collision avoidance and de-orbiting at the end of its three years expected lifetime. The satellite was successfully launched into space on the inaugural flight of the Chinese medium-lift Long March 8 rocket, from Wenchang, China.

L'Usine Nouvelle

Issue du CNRS et de Polytechnique, la start-up ThrustMe a envoyé dans l’espace son premier moteur électrique pour minisatellite, le 6 novembre. Opéré depuis Taiyuan (Chine) par une compagnie aérospatiale chinoise, ce lancement est une première mondiale.

Malay Mail

French startup ThrustMe ― founded by researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the École Polytechnique ― claims a world first with the first-ever electric motor for satellites that uses iodine, a substance that is denser, easier to integrate and cheaper than gaseous propellants such as xenon.

Les Echos

Le monde spatial a basculé cette année : le nombre de satellites mis en orbite a plus que doublé entre 2019 et 2020 à plus de 1.000 satellites lancés. Plus de 50 projets de constellations se disputent le marché de l'observation de la terre, tandis que dans les télécommunications, la fourniture globale d'Internet via l'espace arrive avec Starlink, la constellation de SpaceX.

ThrustMe announces that the BEIHANGKONGSHI-1 satellite, carrying the world’s first iodine electric propulsion system on board, was successfully launched into space on a CZ-6 Long March 6 rocket from Taiyuan in China on the 6th of November at 11:19 am (Beijing time).