Draft:Orbion Space Technology
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Orbion Space Technology
 | |
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Lyon Brad King, Jason Sommerville |
| Headquarters | Houghton, Michigan |
| Products | Hall-effect Electric Propulsion Systems |
| Website | orbionspace.com |
Orbion Space Technology is a U.S.-based aerospace company that develops and manufactures electric propulsion systems for small satellites. Founded in 2016 in Houghton, Michigan, Orbion is best known for its flagship product, the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System which integrates the thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management into a compact, flight-ready package. The company specializes in mass-producible, cost-efficient Hall-effect thrusters and is considered one of the leading domestic suppliers of electric propulsion systems for proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations.
History
[edit]Orbion Space Technology’s origin story is an example of academic innovation translating into commercial success. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Lyon (Brad) King and Dr. Jason Sommerville, the company emerged from decades of research and development in electric propulsion at Michigan Technological University.[1]
Dr. King, a Calumet native and the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Professor of Space Systems at Michigan Tech, had been leading research in plasma propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters, since establishing the Ion Space Propulsion Lab (Isp Lab) in 2000. Recognizing the growing demand for efficient propulsion systems for small satellites, King and Sommerville saw an opportunity to commercialize their research by producing cost-effective, high-performance thrusters suitable for the burgeoning small satellite market.[2]
To bring this vision to fruition, they established Orbion in Houghton, Michigan, leveraging the region’s talent pool and support infrastructure. The company benefited from resources provided by the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) SmartZone, which offered business development support and access to funding opportunities. In 2017, Orbion won $500,000 at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, providing crucial early-stage capital.[3]
The company has since expanded operations, built a dedicated manufacturing facility in Houghton, employs over 40 full-time engineers and PhD researchers, and continues to attract talent from leading aerospace organizations. The company’s growth underscores the potential for high-tech enterprises to thrive outside traditional innovation hubs, contributing to the economic development of northern Michigan.[4]
Technology
[edit]Propulsion
[edit]Orbion Space Technology’s primary product is the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System, an integrated electric propulsion solution developed for small satellite platforms. The system is centered around a magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster, which operates by ionizing inert gas (typically xenon or krypton) and accelerating the ions through an electric field to generate thrust. The magnetic shielding enhances thruster lifespan by minimizing erosion of internal components.[5]
The Aurora system includes three main subsystems:
- Hall-effect Thruster – Provides precise, efficient thrust using ionized gas accelerated by electromagnetic fields.
- Power Processing Unit (PPU) – Converts satellite bus voltage into the required power levels for thruster operation, with conversion efficiencies reaching up to 90%.
- Propellant Management Assembly (PMA) – Controls the storage and metered flow of the propellant to the thruster.
Designed for high-volume manufacturing, the Aurora system emphasizes modularity, cost-efficiency, and ease of integration into a range of commercial and governmental satellite missions. Its scalable architecture supports mass production to meet the demands of proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations.
Products
[edit]Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System
[edit]"Aurora" is Orbion’s flagship product, a turnkey propulsion solution designed for small satellite missions. It is modular and compact, making it suitable for a range of spacecraft sizes and configurations. Aurora’s design emphasizes affordability, ease of integration, and manufacturability at scale.
The system is designed for satellite constellations that require precise orbital adjustments, station-keeping, and end-of-life disposal capabilities.
Orbion has demonstrated xenon Hall thrusters at over 400 kNs of impulse with an operation time of 6,800 hours. Orbion is also preparing a 1kW Hall thruster system called Nova.
Applications
[edit]Orbion’s propulsion systems are primarily used by commercial satellite operators deploying large constellations in LEO. Their technology enables efficient orbit-raising, collision avoidance, and deorbiting procedures. The company also supports civil and defense space missions that demand high-reliability electric propulsion.[6]
Facilities
[edit]Orbion utilizes two primary, AS9100 certified facilities for business operations. Orbion’s headquarters located in Houghton MI, called the Powerhouse, serves multiple purposes with 15,000 sq. ft. of office and engineering space. The Powerhouse has 1000 sq. ft. of dedicated development lab space, over 700 sq. ft. of ISO Class 7 cleanroom and 200 sq. ft. of HBM Class 1A ESD area.
The Evergreen facility hosts Orbion’s patented acceptance testing and hot-fire facilities and features multiple cleanrooms, test chambers, and a large control room. The test chambers can achieve pressures as low as one ten-billionth of an atmosphere and maintain internal temperatures down to -411°F, enabling comprehensive testing of thruster performance under extreme conditions.[7]
Technological Achievements
[edit]Aurora Hall-Effect Propulsion System
[edit]Orbion’s flagship product, the Aurora system, is a magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster designed for small satellites. It integrates the thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management assembly into a compact, efficient package. Aurora thrusters have demonstrated high performance, enabling precise orbital maneuvers and extended mission lifespans for small satellites.[8]
El Matador Collision Avoidance System
[edit]In response to the increasing need for agile collision avoidance in congested low Earth orbit (LEO), Orbion developed “El Matador,” a high-thrust cold-gas nozzle integrated into the Aurora thruster. This system allows satellites to execute rapid evasive maneuvers without significant additional mass.[9]
Advanced Testing Facilities
[edit]Orbion operates state-of-the-art, highly customized vacuum chambers capable of simulating the harsh conditions of space, including pressures as low as one ten-billionth of an atmosphere and temperatures down to -411°F. These facilities enable rigorous testing of thruster performance and reliability.[5]
Commercialization Successes
[edit]Strategic Partnerships and Contracts
[edit]Orbion has secured contracts with major aerospace entities, including General Atomics, for which it supplies propulsion systems for U.S. Space Force weather satellites.[10]
Recognition and Awards
[edit]The company has been acknowledged for its innovation and growth, being named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list in 2024.[11]
The Michigan Venture Capital Association has named Orbion the Up and Coming Company of the Year in 2019 and recognized Orbion’s Series B preferred stock offering as Financing of the Year in 2021.[12]
Funding and Investment
[edit]Orbion has successfully raised significant capital to support its growth, including a $9.2 million Series A round in 2019 and a $20 million Series B round in 2021.[13]
Economic Impact
[edit]By establishing its operations in Houghton, Michigan, Orbion has contributed to local economic development, attracting skilled professionals and fostering a high-tech industry presence in the region.[14]
Publications
[edit]38th International Electric Propulsion Conference - Toulouse, France
[edit]- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Hall-Effect Thruster - Part I
- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Hall-Effect Thruster - Part II
- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Propulsion Management Assembly
- Qualification of the Aurora Power Processing Unit
- Integrated System Testing and Software Qualification of the Aurora Electric Propulsion System
9th International Space Propulsion Conference - Glasgow, Scotland
[edit]See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Professor L. Brad King, Orbion Space Technology Team Named to Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies 2024" List". Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Perkins, Cyndi (2022-03-16). "Origins of Orbion: When Preparation Meets Opportunity". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Michigan Business Success Stories | Reports & Data | Michigan Business". Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Riper, Karen Van (2025-04-11). "Building the Future of Space Innovation in Michigan: Brad King, Orbion, and U-M's Entrepreneurial Pipeline". Center for Entrepreneurship. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ a b "Orbion Space Technology ⋆ Propelling the Small Satellite Revolution". Orbion. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Orbion Space Technology ⋆ Propelling the Small Satellite Revolution". Orbion. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Jackson, Colin (2022-10-04). "Orbion Space Technology opens rocket factory in Houghton". https://www.uppermichiganssource.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ Group, SAE Media (2025-01-06). "NASA's Electric Thrusters Keep Commercial Satellites on the Clock". www.techbriefs.com. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Werner, Debra (2021-08-24). "Orbion wins contract to demonstrate high-thrust propulsion". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ BLUESTEIN, ADAM (2024-03-19). "How Orbion Space Technology is propelling satellites to space in a whole new way". fast company.com.
- ^ "Professor L. Brad King, Orbion Space Technology Team Named to Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies 2024" List". Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Orbion Space Technology wins Financing of the Year award at Michigan Venture Capital Association's 2021 Awards Dinner". Beringea. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth. "Thruster Tech Company Attracts $9.2 Million From Series A Investors". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Far out: Rocket company boosts Houghton's economy". University of Michigan News. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2025-05-20.