WASHINGTON — ThrustMe, a satellite propulsion company based in France, is making a strategic push into the U.S. space market, securing a roster of new American customers.
The company announced Feb. 4 it has signed deals with a diverse set of U.S. firms, including Starfish Space, Astro Digital, Magellan Aerospace, Lumen Orbit, Oligo Space, Turion Space, and Terran Orbital, a subsidiary of defense giant Lockheed Martin.
Founded in 2017, ThrustMe specializes in miniaturized, iodine-fueled electric propulsion systems for small satellites. The company in 2021 performed the first on-orbit tests of an iodine-fueled electric propulsion system. The demonstration proved that iodine could be a viable propellant for electric propulsion systems, leading ThrustMe to begin the commercialization of the system.
ThrustMe began industrial-scale production in mid-2023. Since then, the company has delivered more than 150 propulsion systems, with 67 already operational in orbit, according to Ane Aanesland, ThrustMe’s co-founder and chief executive.
“North America is known for its highly competitive space industry, where international companies often face difficulties establishing themselves,” Aanesland said in a statement. “Securing these customers demonstrates our ability to meet the growing demand for innovative propulsion solutions.”
The company is providing iodine-fueled electric propulsion for a Canadian government satellite mission through Magellan Aerospace. Lumen Orbit, meanwhile, is integrating ThrustMe’s technology into a mission in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) to test in-orbit cloud computing. ThrustMe supplied a propulsion system for Turion Space’s DROID.002 spacecraft that is scheduled to launch on the SpaceX Transporter-13 small-satellite rideshare.
The firm has not disclosed direct contracts with U.S. government agencies, but its expanding U.S. presence could position it for future deals in both the defense and civil space sectors. The U.S. Space Force, for example, has requested $20 million for Space Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics in its fiscal year 2025 budget to fund new technologies, including satellites with in-orbit maneuvering capabilities.
Analysts say the satellite propulsion market is experiencing a surge in demand as commercial satellite constellations grow and defense agencies seek more agile and responsive spacecraft. They point out that propulsion systems are emerging as a critical enabler of 21st-century space operations, with increased investment from both government and private-sector space operators.
