Magdrive

Magdrive develops high-thrust electric plasma propulsion systems for satellites and spacecraft. Founded in 2020 and headquartered at Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the company uses pulsed power technology to vaporize solid metal propellant into high-energy plasma, delivering thrust an order of magnitude higher than comparable electric propulsion systems while maintaining high specific impulse. The product line includes the Rogue (10 mN thrust, 3 kg, fits in a 2U cubesat form factor), the Warlock (50 mN thrust), and the SuperMagdrive (1 N+ thrust, 75 kg). Key applications include constellation management with high-cadence collision avoidance maneuvers, sustained rendezvous and proximity operations for satellite servicing and in-space manufacturing, and stochastic orbital movement for defense satellites. Magdrive completed its first in-orbit demonstration in 2025-2026 aboard SpaceX Transporter-14 in collaboration with D-Orbit. The company also operates the DEEP Lab, the UK's largest commercially available electric propulsion test facility, co-funded by the UK Space Agency.