Pulsar Fusion

Pulsar Fusion, founded by Richard Dinan and headquartered in Bletchley, UK, makes electric plasma propulsion systems for satellites using Hall effect thrusters, which generate thrust by ejecting neutral plasma. In parallel, the company is developing the Sunbird Fusion Drive, a nuclear fusion rocket concept aimed at deep space travel, with in-orbit demonstration targeted for 2027 and a production-ready system projected for the early 2030s. In 2023, Pulsar partnered with Princeton Satellite Systems to apply artificial intelligence to fusion rocket design, targeting exhaust velocities of around 500,000 mph. The company operates two of the largest space propulsion testing chambers in the UK and has received grant support from the UK Space Agency.