Astra space said it had reached an agreement with tuquila, Washington – headquartered in Leo Stella to provide multiple electric propulsion systems for Leo Stella’s small satellite, which is expected to begin delivery later this year.
The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Leo Stella, a joint venture between blacksky and Thales Alenia space, manufactures satellites for blacksky, loft orbital and other customers at its Tukwila manufacturing plant. The California based Astra space company’s main business is launching rockets, but last year it bought Apollo fusion, which makes electric propulsion systems.
Electric propulsion system, also known as ion driver, can provide soft and stable power for spacecraft by emitting ion beam. The Astra / Apollo fusion system can use xenon or krypton propellant.
For value reasons, the Apollo fusion electric propulsion system was previously selected as a version of the Sherpa space tug, manufactured by spaceflight Inc., one of Seattle based Astra’s industry partners.
Leo Stella plans to use Astra’s electric propulsion system on various satellites.
“As the demand for small satellites continues to grow, we have been looking for innovative solutions to provide efficient and reliable propulsion for our satellites,” TOD byquist, director of Leo Stella project and supply chain, said at a press conference today. “Astra’s spacecraft engine has a good flight tradition and performance. We need to send the satellite into space as planned.”
Mike Cassidy, vice president of Astra project management, said Leo Stella was “a pioneer in building critical space infrastructure through various satellite designs”
“Their vision of deploying reliable and cost-effective satellites is closely related to Astra’s vision and demonstrates the innovative power of expanding and accelerating space access,” Cassidy said.
