Electric Propulsion System and Manufacturing Facility

The ability to manoeuvre satellites quickly and efficiently in orbit is more than critical to the success of satellite missions – it’s also an important factor in keeping space sustainable. It keeps satellites off collision courses and de-orbits them safely. In response, Adelaide-based Neumann Space has developed a unique thruster that runs on solid metal propellant.

The Neumann Drive system uses solar power to deliver an electric current to a metallic rod. This erodes the metal and creates plasma. As the plasma ejects, it creates a propulsion effect – and by doing it in timed bursts, or ‘pulses’, the system can deliver controlled thrust for the satellite. The process is non-toxic with no hazardous substances involved. The fuel rod can also be made of any solid metal or alloy that conducts electricity. This creates the potential to recycle space junk into fuel rods made in orbit.

Neumann Space is manufacturing the thrusters at its own facility inside its Adelaide headquarters. This allows it to move quickly through designing and testing new versions. The company has so far developed three versions of the thruster – which is designed to be used on nanosatellites right up to larger spacecraft.

• Centre-Triggered Pulsed Cathodic Arc Thruster (CTPCAT) converts solid conductive fuel into plasma for impulse generation.
• Multi-headed thruster design allows concurrent firing.
• Can be scaled across different satellite platforms.
• Common, commercially available materials to reduce cost, risk, and lead time.
• Produced in-house at a state-of-the-art cleanroom facility. Supported by thermal vacuum chambers and commissioning stations also located in Neumann Space’s home base of Adelaide.

• Agency Moon to Mars grant to develop  manufacturing facility in Adelaide for thruster development and production.
• In-orbit demonstration first achieved on University of Melbourne-led SpIRIT nanosatellite mission, and two further customer missions.
• Flight heritage gained onboard SpIRIT satellite includes completion of hundreds of pulses, with further testing underway.
• Development of SmallSat and CubeSat thrusters for a growing customer base.