Orbion Space Technology
Orbion Space Technology
 Rendering of Orbion's Aurora Hall-effect thruster on a satellite.png | |
 | |
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded 📆 | 2016 |
| Founders 👔 | Lyon Brad King, Jason Sommerville |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | Houghton, Michigan |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Products 📟 | Hall-effect Electric Propulsion Systems |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | orbionspace.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Orbion Space Technology is a U.S.-based aerospace company that develops and manufactures electric propulsion systems for small satellites. Founded in 2016 in Houghton, Michigan, the company specializes in mass-producible, cost-efficient Hall-effect thrusters and is a domestic supplier of electric propulsion systems for proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations. Orbion’s primary product is the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System, which integrates the thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management into a compact, flight-ready package. In 2024, Orbion was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.
History
Orbion Space Technology was founded in 2016 by Dr. Lyon (Brad) King and Dr. Jason Sommerville and is based in Houghton, Michigan. The company originated from decades of research and development in electric propulsion conducted at Michigan Technological University and the University of Michigan.[1]
Dr. King, a native of Calumet, Michigan, and the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Professor of Space Systems at Michigan Tech, established the university’s Ion Space Propulsion Lab (Isp Lab) in 2000. His research focused on plasma propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters. King and Sommerville commercialized their academic research by producing cost-effective, high-performance thrusters suitable for the burgeoning small satellite market.[2]
In founding the company, Orbion leveraged resources provided by the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) SmartZone, which offered business development support and access to funding opportunities. In 2017, Orbion received $500,000 at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, which provided early-stage capital.[3]
The company has since expanded operations, building a dedicated manufacturing facility and employing more than 70 full-time engineers and PhD-level researchers. The company’s growth underscores the potential for high-tech enterprises to thrive outside traditional innovation hubs.[4]
Technology
Propulsion
Orbion Space Technology’s primary product is the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System, an integrated electric propulsion solution developed for small satellite platforms. The system is centered around a magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster, which operates by ionizing inert gas (typically xenon or krypton) and accelerating the ions through an electric field to generate thrust.[5]
The Aurora system includes three main subsystems:
- Hall-effect Thruster – Provides precise, efficient thrust using ionized gas accelerated by electromagnetic fields.
- Power Processing Unit (PPU) – Converts satellite bus voltage into the required power levels for thruster operation, with conversion efficiencies reaching up to 90%.
- Propellant Management Assembly (PMA) – Controls the storage and metered flow of the propellant to the thruster.
The Aurora system is designed for high-volume manufacturing. It prioritizes modularity, cost-efficiency, and ease of integration into a range of commercial and governmental satellite missions. Its scalable architecture supports mass production to meet the demands of proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations.
Products
Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System
Aurora, Orbion’s flagship product, is a propulsion solution designed for small satellite missions. It is modular and compact, making it compatible with a range of spacecraft sizes and configurations. Aurora’s design prioritizes affordability, ease of integration, and manufacturability at scale.
The system is designed for satellite constellations that require precise orbital adjustments, station-keeping, collision avoidance and end-of-life de-orbit.
Orbion has demonstrated xenon thrusters at over 400 kNs of impulse with an operation time of 6,800 hours. Orbion is also preparing a 1kW Hall thruster system called Nova to further expand its capabilities.
Applications
Orbion’s propulsion systems are primarily used by commercial satellite operators deploying large constellations in LEO. The company also supports civil and defense space missions that demand high-reliability electric propulsion.[6]
Facilities
Orbion utilizes two primary, AS9100 certified facilities for business operations. The company’s Houghton, Michigan headquarters, called the Powerhouse, has 15,000 sq. ft. of office and engineering space, including 1000 sq. ft. of dedicated development lab space, 700 sq. ft. of ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, and 200 sq. ft. of HBM Class 1A ESD areas.
Orbion’s second facility, Evergreen, hosts the company’s acceptance testing and hot-fire facilities and features multiple cleanrooms, test chambers, and a large control room. The test chambers can achieve pressures as low as one ten-billionth of an atmosphere and maintain internal temperatures down to -411°F, enabling testing of components under extreme conditions that simulate a space environment.[7]
Technological Achievements
Aurora Hall-Effect Propulsion System
The Aurora system is a magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster designed for small satellites. It integrates the thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management assembly into a compact, efficient package. Aurora thrusters have demonstrated high performance, enabling precise orbital maneuvers and extended mission lifespans for small satellites.[8]
El Matador Collision Avoidance System
El Matador was engineered in response to the growing need for agile collision avoidance in congested low Earth orbit (LEO). A high-thrust cold-gas nozzle is integrated into the Aurora thruster, allowing satellites to execute rapid evasive maneuvers without significant additional mass.[9]
Advanced Testing Facilities
Orbion facilities feature highly customized vacuum chambers capable of simulating the harsh conditions of space, including pressures as low as one ten-billionth of an atmosphere and temperatures down to -411°F.[5]
Commercialization Successes
Strategic Partnerships and Contracts
Orbion has secured contracts with a number of aerospace entities, including General Atomics, for which it supplies propulsion systems for U.S. Space Force weather satellites.[10]
Recognition and Awards
In 2024, Orbion was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list.[11]
The Michigan Venture Capital Association named Orbion the Up and Coming Company of the Year in 2019 and recognized Orbion’s Series B preferred stock offering as Financing of the Year in 2021.[12]
Funding and Investment
Orbion has raised significant capital to support its growth, including a $9.2 million Series A round in 2019 and a $20 million Series B round in 2021.[13]
Economic Impact
Since its founding, Orbion has had a positive impact on Michigan’s rural northern Upper Peninsula, which has faced significant population loss in recent decades. Orbion has contributed to local economic development by creating well-paying jobs, attracting skilled professionals, and fostering a high-tech industry presence in the region.[14]
Publications
38th International Electric Propulsion Conference - Toulouse, France
- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Hall-Effect Thruster - Part I
- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Hall-Effect Thruster - Part II
- Qualification of the Aurora Low-Power Propulsion Management Assembly
- Qualification of the Aurora Power Processing Unit
- Integrated System Testing and Software Qualification of the Aurora Electric Propulsion System
9th International Space Propulsion Conference - Glasgow, Scotland
See Also
References
- ↑ "Professor L. Brad King, Orbion Space Technology Team Named to Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies 2024" List". Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ Perkins, Cyndi (2022-03-16). "Origins of Orbion: When Preparation Meets Opportunity". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ "Michigan Business Success Stories | Reports & Data | Michigan Business". Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ Riper, Karen Van (2025-04-11). "Building the Future of Space Innovation in Michigan: Brad King, Orbion, and U-M's Entrepreneurial Pipeline". Center for Entrepreneurship. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Orbion Space Technology ⋆ Propelling the Small Satellite Revolution". Orbion. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ "Orbion Space Technology ⋆ Propelling the Small Satellite Revolution". Orbion. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ Jackson, Colin (2022-10-04). "Orbion Space Technology opens rocket factory in Houghton". www.uppermichiganssource.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ↑ Group, SAE Media (2025-01-06). "NASA's Electric Thrusters Keep Commercial Satellites on the Clock". www.techbriefs.com. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ↑ Werner, Debra (2021-08-24). "Orbion wins contract to demonstrate high-thrust propulsion". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ↑ BLUESTEIN, ADAM (2024-03-19). "How Orbion Space Technology is propelling satellites to space in a whole new way". fast company.com.
- ↑ "Professor L. Brad King, Orbion Space Technology Team Named to Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies 2024" List". Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ↑ Beringea. "Orbion Space Technology wins Financing of the Year award at Michigan Venture Capital Association's 2021 Awards Dinner". Beringea. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ↑ Howell, Elizabeth. "Thruster Tech Company Attracts $9.2 Million From Series A Investors". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ↑ "Far out: Rocket company boosts Houghton's economy". University of Michigan News. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
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