The flight demonstration is a major step for safety and sustainability in space, as Accion's TILE technology gains valuable flight heritage
BOSTON, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Accion Systems, a manufacturer of the leading ion electrospray in-space propulsion systems, today announced that it had successfully fired its latest generation of TILE (Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray) technology in space for the first time. The TILE thruster increased the altitude of a NanoAvionics satellite "D2/Atlacom-1" while correcting for atmospheric drag. The corresponding orbit resulting from the TILE unit firing was verified by the satellite's GPS measurements.
"This is a major milestone, not only for Accion but for the entire space industry," said Kent Lietzau, Accion's Vice President of Business Development. "Accion started with the vision of a future where every satellite would have access to affordable, safe and efficient in-space propulsion. That goal has never been more important today: as space gets more crowded, satellites need to be able to avoid collisions, extend their lifetime, and deorbit safely. This mission is a major step forward for sustainability in space. It gives our current and future customers the assurance that TILE can maneuver their satellite both safely and efficiently."
The demonstration was completed on board a NanoAvionics M6P nanosatellite as part of a rideshare mission "D2/Atlacom-1" launched in the summer of 2021. The mission was completed in partnership with NASA's Tipping Point, an opportunity through the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate which seeks to advance commercial technologies that hold promise to enable the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach. As part of the partnership, Accion worked with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley to advance a thruster that aims to deliver the same capabilities as the legacy cold gas thrusters used on the world's first interplanetary CubeSats, NASA's MarCO-A and B, but with a smaller and lighter system that uses less power. NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate managed Accion Systems' TILE Tipping Point project.
Accion's TILE system uses an ultra-low pressure liquid propellant that allows it to be smaller, lighter and more efficient than other comparable systems. This enables satellites to conduct their missions and power their other payloads while operating TILE electric propulsion at the same time. The small size, weight and power (SWaP) footprint makes TILE ideal for small satellites, which traditionally have struggled to implement propulsion due to SWaP constraints, while TILE's modular design can easily be scaled for use on larger satellites.
Accion is scheduled to gain additional flight heritage for its latest TILE technology in 2022 and 2023, with flights scheduled in partnership with MIT and the Department of Defense. The recent momentum follows a $42M Series C funding round led by Tracker Capital completed in July 2021, which will help Accion scale up manufacturing for its next generation TILE system to meet demand now that TILE has gained flight heritage.
About Accion
Accion Systems develops advanced satellite propulsion systems for the space industry. Accion's in-space propulsion technologies optimize scalability, performance, and efficiency. Accion's flagship product, TILE, uses proprietary ion electrospray thrusters, bringing electric propulsion to satellites of all sizes and redefining in-space capabilities. Accion Systems was founded in 2014 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Visit: accion-systems.com
Media Contact
Caroline Statile, Accion Systems, 1 5168498181, [email protected]
SOURCE Accion Systems
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