Magdrive-Nano

Small satellites now carry the burden of a propulsion system that is either too heavy or too weak. Magdrive-Nano is a new thruster that uses unique plasma technology to deliver both high thrust and high efficiency in a single, lightweight package. Existing chemical propulsion is heavy and inefficient for small satellites, while electric propulsion produces extremely low thrust. This forces satellite operators to choose between manoeuvrability and mission lifetime. Magdrive-Nano solves that trade-off. It is designed for nanosatellites under 50 kilograms and microsatellites under 200 kilograms, the class of spacecraft now forming mega-constellations in low Earth orbit. If successful, the system could enable satellites to reach orbit faster, perform complex manoeuvres, and de-orbit reliably at end of life. That matters for the global communications infrastructure: mega-constellations will handle huge volumes of data for IoT, remote sensing, and connectivity. Better propulsion means constellations can be deployed and maintained more cheaply, opening new business models for European operators. It also addresses the growing problem of space debris by making post-mission de-orbiting more practical. The project is applied engineering, not fundamental science—its value is in making a specific market bottleneck disappear.