SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04

Electric Propulsion

TECH 27 in index

Thrusters that ionize propellant and accelerate it electrostatically or electromagnetically — high specific impulse, low thrust.

DEFINITION

Electric propulsion (EP) covers thrusters that use electrical energy to ionize and accelerate propellant — most commonly Hall-effect, gridded-ion, or pulsed-plasma thrusters. EP delivers an order of magnitude higher specific impulse than chemical propulsion, at the cost of much lower thrust. That trade is favorable for long-duration orbit raising, station-keeping, and interplanetary cruise.

WHY IT MATTERS

EP has gone from exotic to default for many missions. Starlink, OneWeb, and most modern GEO satellites use Hall thrusters. EP is also a prerequisite for VLEO (where it cancels drag) and for in-space transportation tugs.

WHERE YOU'LL SEE IT
  • GEO orbit raising and station-keeping
  • LEO constellation orbit maintenance
  • VLEO drag compensation
  • In-space tugs and orbital transfer vehicles

Companies working with Electric Propulsion

VIEW ALL 27 →
AAC Clyde Space logo
AAC Clyde Space
OPERATING
SWE EST. 2008

Designs and manufactures small satellite platforms and subsystems, operates satellite constellations, and delivers space-based data services

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingSatellite Components & Subsystems
Uppsala, Sweden
EXPLORE
Albedo logo
Albedo
OPERATING
USA EST. 2020

Designs and manufactures flight-proven Very Low Earth Orbit satellite buses for defense, communications, and specialized payload operators

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite Manufacturing
Broomfield, Colorado
EXPLORE
Astra Space logo
Astra Space
OPERATING
USA EST. 2016

Develops small-lift launch vehicles with mobile launch infrastructure and manufactures Hall-effect electric propulsion systems for satellite constellations

Launch ServicesSpace Propulsion
Alameda, California
EXPLORE
Astranis logo
Astranis
OPERATING
USA EST. 2015

No description available.

Satellite CommunicationsSatellite ManufacturingNavigation & Positioning
California
EXPLORE
AstroForge logo
AstroForge
OPERATING
USA EST. 2022

Develops spacecraft and in-situ refining technology to extract and process platinum group metals from metallic near-Earth asteroids

Planetary ExplorationSpace Resources & Mining
Seal Beach, California
EXPLORE
Atomos Space logo
Atomos Space
OPERATING
USA EST. 2018

Develops orbital transfer vehicles for in-space transportation, satellite life extension, and payload delivery services

Space Transportation & LogisticsIn-Orbit Servicing & Assembly
Broomfield, Colorado
EXPLORE
Bellatrix Aerospace logo
Bellatrix Aerospace
OPERATING
IND EST. 2015

Develops electric and green propulsion systems for satellites and operates an orbital transfer vehicle for precise in-space deployment

Space Transportation & LogisticsSpace PropulsionSatellite Components & Subsystems
Bengaluru, India
EXPLORE
Benchmark Space Systems logo
Benchmark Space Systems
OPERATING
USA EST. 2017

Designs and manufactures chemical, electric, and hybrid propulsion systems for spacecraft ranging from cubesats to orbital transfer vehicles

Space Transportation & LogisticsSpace PropulsionSpace Sustainability & Debris Removal
Burlington, Vermont
EXPLORE
Busek logo
Busek
OPERATING
USA EST. 1985

Designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems for spacecraft, including Hall effect, electrospray, RF ion, and green monopropellant thrusters

Space PropulsionSatellite Components & Subsystems
Massachusetts
EXPLORE
D-Orbit logo
D-Orbit
OPERATING
ITA EST. 2011

Operates orbital transfer vehicles for last-mile satellite delivery, hosted payload services, space cloud computing, and in-orbit servicing

Space Transportation & LogisticsIn-Orbit Servicing & AssemblySpace Software & Mission Tools
Italy
EXPLORE
Dhruva Space logo
Dhruva Space
OPERATING
IND EST. 2012

Builds satellite platforms, orbital deployers, and ground stations, providing full-stack space engineering solutions for civilian and defense clients

Satellite ManufacturingGround Segment & NetworksSatellite Components & Subsystems
Hyderabad, India
EXPLORE
Exotrail logo
Exotrail
OPERATING
FRA EST. 2017

Designs electric propulsion systems for small satellites and operates orbital transfer vehicles for last-mile delivery and in-orbit services

Space Transportation & LogisticsSpace PropulsionSpace Software & Mission Tools
Massy, France
EXPLORE
RECENT MENTIONS MORE NEWS →
Inside Outer Space 2026-06-01

This Only Happens on Mars

A new episode of Mars Guy looks at the accumulation of dust donuts on the color calibration targets used by cameras on NASA’s Perseverance rover.   “Martian dust is behaving as expected.  It also reveals a fundamental difference between dust on Mars and Earth.  Our dust doesn’t behave this way.” This video is available […]

SpaceNews 2026-05-28

CEO Series: Lux Aeterna’s Brian Taylor on what’s next for on-orbit servicing

In this episode of Space Minds, David Ariosto talks with Lux Aeterna CEO Brian Taylor about the problems with disposable satellites and the use for on-orbit servicing. Sponsored by Arcfield […] The post CEO Series: Lux Aeterna’s Brian Taylor on what’s next for on-orbit servicing appeared first on SpaceNews.

Spaceflight Now 2026-05-23

Musk praises “epic” Super Heavy-Starship launch

The Starship upper stage was equipped with six third-generation Raptor engines and one of three optimized for operating in vacuum shut down early during the climb to space. The flight computer kept the other five engines running longer than originally planned to make up for the shortfall, putting the craft on an acceptable sub-orbital trajectory.

SpaceNews 2026-05-21

CEO Series: Open Cosmos’ Rafel Jorda Siquier on finding a niche in space

In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Open Cosmos’ CEO Rafel Jorda Siquier about combining Earth observation, connectivity and IoT into a single platform. They also discuss […] The post CEO Series: Open Cosmos’ Rafel Jorda Siquier on finding a niche in space appeared first on SpaceNews.

Phys.org Space 2026-05-01

New lithium-plasma engine passes key Mars propulsion test

You're on the fourth human mission to Mars, and you're told the Odyssey spacecraft designed to take you there will be the smoothest ride you'll ever take. It features a newly christened electric propulsion engine which was in the late stages of testing during the first three missions. The mission starts and the spacecraft travels at a crawl, and you wonder if it's broken. A week goes by and you're now traveling at more than 400,000 kilometers (250,000 miles) per hour, and your mind is blown as t

RELATED TERMS

Part of the Space Industry Glossary. 28 terms, each linked to live company and news data.