Satellite propulsion startup ION-X has announced that the French space agency CNES has signed a contract to become the company’s first customer.
ION-X was founded in 2021 with the goal of offering a novel propulsion system for small satellites using ionic liquid electrospray thrusters. The technology involves extracting fast charged particles from the surface of a conducting ionic liquid, which are then expelled to generate thrust. The result is more stable, efficient, and powerful thrust than traditional electrospray thrusters using other propellants.
On 16 May, ION-X announced that it had signed a development contract with CNES. The two-year agreement will involve the delivery of three units of the company’s ionic liquid electrospray thrusters, which will be used for ground testing and in-flight performance verification. The contract will be concluded in the second half of 2025 with the launch of an in-flight demonstration that will validate the thrusters’ performance in low Earth orbit.
The agreement with CNES not only outlines what ION-X is required to deliver but also includes provisions that will aid the company with the development of its key technologies. These provisions will allow the ION-X team to work with CNES experts on key development areas and gain access to the agency’s propulsion testing facilities in Toulouse, further enhancing the company’s capabilities and credibility.
ION-X funding and future
To date, ION-X has secured €4.3 million in funding from TF Participations, BPI France, and Expansion. The company is currently working towards a Series A funding round. It plans to utilize its Series A funding to accelerate the development of its thrusters, recruit additional staff, and build out its first production lines. Leading up to that next phase, the company plans to launch its first demonstration mission in the second half of 2024.
