NewOrbit Space

🚀 We’re excited to announce that NewOrbit Space has been awarded its first contract from the European Space Agency - ESA for the further advancement of the air-breathing thruster and cathode! 🚀 NewOrbit has received a €175,000 contract through an open innovation program aimed at developing novel concepts and technologies for Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO). This contract will focus on conducting coupling tests of the air-breathing ion thruster and air-breathing cathode to further advance our development of air-breathing electric propulsion. NewOrbit is thrilled to work with the European Space Agency and we look forward to pioneering new orbits together! #vleo #propulsion #esa #space

As the year comes to a close, we reflect on an incredibly successful 2024 for NewOrbit. We’ve made significant strides in advancing our air-breathing satellite technology, bringing us closer to launch readiness. Alongside these technological breakthroughs, we've also seen impressive organizational growth, expanding our team and doubling our facility space. Additionally, we achieved our first commercial contract, marking an exciting step forward. Here are 12 key highlights from the year: In 2024, we welcomed 16 new hires, building a team with deep expertise in satellite systems and space exploration. We now boasts a combined experience of over 60 satellites, Moon landers, and Mars rovers. In February, we completed a 24-hour operational lifetime test on our previous ion engine's integrated system, electronics, and cathode. In March, we secured our first commercial contract with the European Space Agency, tasked with delivering a new generation air-breathing cathode and thruster. In April, we made significant advancements with our cathode. It now operates on nitrogen and oxygen found at 200 km altitude, resolving ionization and plasma stability issues. Power consumption was reduced by 40%, improving the thrust-to-drag ratio, while mass was cut by 70%. In May, we designed a new generation of air intake, reducing mass and length while increasing particle collection efficiency by 50%. In June, we presented our first scientific paper at the International Electric Propulsion Conference, showcasing a specific impulse of 6380 seconds for our air-breathing system and full drag compensation for altitudes below 200 km. In July, we achieved remote satellite control, enabling us to operate our satellite from our laptops. In August, we doubled our facilities, expanding our office, adding a vacuum chamber, and building a new ISO-7 clean room for our satellite assembly. In September, we launched a redesigned website to reflect our growth and evolution as a company. In October, we designed the first pre-flight generation of our propulsion system’s cathode, bringing us closer to an in-orbit demonstration. In November, we conducted spark plug experiments, establishing key ignition parameters for our cathode and thruster in space. In December, we completed performance characterization of our thruster and cathode, confirming stable operation in pure gas environments, essential for ABEP in ultra-low Earth orbit. NewOrbit wishes everyone a joyful holiday season. We look forward to building on this success in the new year!

This is what two years of relentless development of NewOrbit’s plasma propulsion system looks like: The image on the left, taken in 2022, marks one of the first ignitions of our thruster. What began on the kitchen table of our two founders and in a rented laboratory at the University of Southampton has evolved into our own state-of-the-art electric propulsion laboratory. The image on the right, taken at the end of 2024, showcases the result of relentless development - the 7th iteration of our air-breathing electric propulsion system. What changed: • Fully optimized RF Ion Thruster for operation on atmospheric particles found in ultra-low orbits. • Developed a unique RF cathode that operates purely on nitrogen and oxygen, both found in ultra-low orbits. • Solved thermal dissipation issues (as air requires 3x more power than conventional xenon). • Resolved plasma stability issues during operation on a nitrogen-oxygen mixture. • Replaced all six COTS power supplies with our own built-in electronics that operate in a vacuum. • Tripled thrust-to-power efficiency since the first prototypes. • Added digital control to the cathode, now requiring only a code base, batteries, and mass flow. At NewOrbit, we live by the philosophy of continuous, fast iteration and rigorous testing. This approach has enabled us to build the world’s first air-breathing electric propulsion system capable of compensating for aerodynamic drag at an altitude of 180 km.

Join us to build and lead our commercial team! NewOrbit Space is looking for a Commercial Lead to drive our growth through strategic sales. The ideal candidate will represent NewOrbit in both technical and commercial discussions, securing contracts that expand our reach and impact in the satellite market. We’re building satellites that can breathe air and operate sustainably in ultra low Earth orbit at an altitude of just 180 km, one-third that of most conventional satellites. Operating in  ultra low Earth orbit is the biggest change the satellite industry has seen in decades. Join us now to shape this new chapter. Read more and apply via link below, https://lnkd.in/dNUnJ-gC

Our team is growing fast! 🚀 We’re looking for Power Electronics Engineers to join us in designing, building, and testing cutting-edge electronics that are shaping the future of space. We’re building satellites that can breathe air and operate sustainably at an altitude of just 180 km, one-third that of most conventional satellites. Thanks to our air-breathing propulsion system, we can compensate for atmospheric drag using the atmospheric particles as propellant, enabling operations in Ultra Low Earth Orbit. As a Power Electronics Engineer you'll design, develop, test, and integrate advanced power systems for our satellites. Read more and apply via link below, https://lnkd.in/eBBrn8xW

Our team is growing fast! 🚀 We’re looking for Power Electronics Engineers to join us in designing, building, and testing cutting-edge electronics that are shaping the future of space. We’re building satellites that can breathe air and operate sustainably at an altitude of just 180 km, one-third that of most conventional satellites. Thanks to our air-breathing propulsion system, we can compensate for atmospheric drag using the atmospheric particles as propellant, enabling operations in Ultra Low Earth Orbit. As a Power Electronics Engineer you'll design, develop, test, and integrate advanced power systems for our satellites. Read more and apply via link below, https://lnkd.in/eBBrn8xW

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an insightful roundtable discussion yesterday in partnership with the UK Space Agency 🌟 🛰 We had an inspiring conversation on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by UK space SMEs as they move from early-stage growth to commercialisation. Together, we delved into the critical gap in support that emerging space companies experience as they transition beyond early-stage funding, and discussed the actionable ways to bridge it. Key themes included: 👉 The barriers to scaling for space SMEs and how the support landscape evolves as the industry matures 👉 Current UK financial support mechanisms that foster growth and attract investment, as well as potential new tools to further strengthen the ecosystem 👉 Opportunities for collaboration between UKSA, the investment community, and SMEs to ensure sustained support through Series A+ funding and beyond Thank you again to all our participants for their contributions to this important dialogue 🚀 Lydia Green – Lead Unlocking Space, UK Space Agency Sofia Chaves – Senior Project Officer Unlocking Space for Investment, UK Space Agency  Rob Desborough – General Partner, Seraphim Space Lucas Bishop – Associate, Seraphim Space Sanjeev Gordhan – General Partner, Type One Ventures Shruti Iyengar – Investment Manager, Future Planet Capital Anatolii Papulov – CEO and Founder, NewOrbit Space Martin Philip – Director, Open Cosmos Patrick Zaitouni – Chief Strategy Officer, HawkEye 360 Steve Young – President of Satellite Missions, ICEYE David Ford – Partner, Silverpeak Julian Tsoi – Director, Lazard Edmund Phillips – Senior Investment Partner, NSSIF Nigel Fox FCA – Chief Finance Officer, ALL.SPACE Martin Philp - Open Cosmos

We're exhibiting at the #SpaceTechExpo in Bremen this year. Drop by our booth D48 to learn more about our air-breathing satellites and ultra low Earth orbit. #uleo #abep #satellites #SpaceTechExpo

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀? 🤔 Here, you can see our air-breathing electric thruster transition from operating on 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻, moving through a blend of mixtures in between. The plume shifts from a 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘄 with oxygen to a 𝗿𝗲𝗱-𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗲 with nitrogen - a vivid illustration of the fascinating physics at play. This color change is due to excited particles in the plasma. As these particles return from higher energy states to lower ones, they release light at specific wavelengths unique to each propellant’s atomic structure. Other common propellant colors include: - Xenon: Blue - Krypton: Violet-Blue - Iodine: Yellow Each propellant not only offers unique performance characteristics but also contributes to the beauty of propulsion. Watching these colors unfold is a reminder of the intricate science behind space technology and the elegance of physics in action. 

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀? 🤔 Here, you can see our air-breathing electric thruster transition from operating on 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻, moving through a blend of mixtures in between. The plume shifts from a 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘄 with oxygen to a 𝗿𝗲𝗱-𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗲 with nitrogen - a vivid illustration of the fascinating physics at play. This color change is due to excited particles in the plasma. As these particles return from higher energy states to lower ones, they release light at specific wavelengths unique to each propellant’s atomic structure. Other common propellant colors include: - Xenon: Blue - Krypton: Violet-Blue - Iodine: Yellow Each propellant not only offers unique performance characteristics but also contributes to the beauty of propulsion. Watching these colors unfold is a reminder of the intricate science behind space technology and the elegance of physics in action.