Space Technology Development

France created a solid-state rocket engine that works without combustion — changing how we launch satellites forever In a quiet aerospace lab outside Toulouse, French engineers have developed something that may transform spaceflight from the ground up — a solid-state plasma propulsion engine that accelerates spacecraft without combustion, without moving parts, and without conventional fuel. It's not just a new engine — it's a new category of propulsion. This innovation is built on an ionized gas loop called a rotating detonation plasma disk, which uses magnetic fields to confine and spin superheated ions. Unlike chemical rockets that burn propellant in a loud, violent flame, this system moves particles using electric fields, producing quiet but continuous thrust with almost no mechanical wear. The core advantage? Precision. Because it’s electromagnetic, it can throttle, steer, or shut off instantly — crucial for satellite positioning, station-keeping, and space debris avoidance. In tests, it delivered stable thrust for over 1,000 hours with no degradation, far outpacing traditional ion thrusters. Even more impressive: it works in near vacuum, at low temperatures, and needs no ignition — meaning satellites can use it for years without refueling. The French team designed it to run on xenon, but it’s also being adapted for argon or krypton — making it cheaper and more versatile than current systems. This could drastically lower the cost of operating low-Earth orbit constellations, deep-space science probes, and even Mars-bound cargo ships. Unlike rocket launches, which are short and explosive, this tech allows long, efficient burns over months — ideal for modern space infrastructure. France’s space agency is already partnering with EU firms to integrate this engine into next-gen micro-launchers and orbital service vehicles — making combustion-free satellite propulsion a reality.

DARPA Advances In-Orbit Space Construction with NOM4D Program A Major Leap Toward Autonomous Space Manufacturing The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has officially entered the testing phase of its NOM4D (Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design) program, marking a significant step toward building large-scale structures in space. This transition from lab-based experiments to small-scale orbital demonstrations signals a breakthrough in autonomous space construction. The NOM4D initiative, launched in 2022, is designed to overcome one of the biggest limitations in space infrastructure development—the size and weight constraints of rocket cargo fairings. Instead of launching pre-assembled or pre-folded structures, the program aims to: • Stow lightweight raw materials aboard rockets. • Assemble structures in space using autonomous robotic systems. • Construct larger, more efficient orbital platforms, beyond what current launch systems allow. A New Era of Space Expansion The NOM4D program is part of a broader shift in space technology, paving the way for: • Frequent orbital launches and lunar missions by 2030. • On-orbit refueling capabilities to extend spacecraft missions. • Autonomous robots assembling space stations and other critical infrastructure. This could radically reduce the cost and complexity of sending large structures into orbit, enabling more ambitious space missions, larger satellites, and permanent deep-space habitats. Why This Matters With private industry and government agencies accelerating space development, in-orbit construction could revolutionize: • Military and defense applications, allowing for rapid deployment of space assets. • Commercial space stations, supporting research, manufacturing, and tourism. • Lunar and Mars colonization, where raw materials could be extracted and assembled into habitable structures. The Future of Space Infrastructure By transitioning to real-world testing, DARPA is bringing us closer to a future where spacecraft, satellites, and even space habitats are built and expanded directly in orbit. The NOM4D program represents a critical step toward making large-scale space manufacturing a reality—one that could reshape how humanity builds in space for decades to come.

A Beijing-based company has achieved an impressive milestone in space technology with a 400 Gb/s laser transmission between two orbiting satellites. This development represents a significant advancement in intersatellite communication capabilities. The test, conducted in March 2025, successfully transmitted 14.4 terabytes of data over nearly 7 minutes between spacecraft separated by 640 kilometers. Most impressively, the system maintained tracking precision within five microradians despite the #satellites traveling at approximately 28,000 km/h in low Earth orbit. This achievement positions China as a serious competitor in the growing field of space-based laser communication networks, which offer substantially higher data rates than traditional radio frequency systems. While companies like SpaceX currently operate laser crosslinks at around 100 Gb/s, this new demonstration quadruples that capacity. The technology could revolutionize various applications beyond satellite internet constellations, including Earth observation data transmission and lunar #communications infrastructure. This breakthrough highlights both China's commercial #space sector growth and the global race to develop high-bandwidth space networks that may eventually rival terrestrial fiber-optic infrastructure.

A Norwegian microsatellite has made a major space communication breakthrough by establishing its first satellite-to-ground optical communications link. Developed by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) for the Norwegian Space Agency (NSA), the NorSat-TD microsatellite marks a significant milestone for the satellite's designers and operators, putting them into an exclusive club of organizations who've managed a similar feat. Optical communications use laser technology and can transmit larger data sets faster with better security than traditional radio frequency communications. This technology is especially important for low Earth orbit (LEO) applications such as Earth observation, telecommunications, atmospheric monitoring, maritime ship tracking, and space astronomy, where reliable data transmission is critical. "The successful demonstration of satellite-to-ground communication by the 35-kg NorSat-TD microsatellite greatly expands the utility of affordable smaller satellites that are more cost-effective than traditional spacecraft to develop, launch, and operate," Dr. Robert E. Zee, Director of SFL, highlighted the explained. The NorSat Technology Demonstrator (NorSat-TD) was designed to demonstrate new technologies for NSA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It was jointly developed by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) in Canada in collaboration with the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). The primary mission of the microsatellite, the ESA explains, will be to test and validate new payloads and concepts from Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. It was launched into low-Earth orbit in April of last year and has an anticipated expiry date of around April 2027. The NorSat-TD microsatellite utilizes two crucial technologies for optical communications. The first technology is precise attitude control, a challenging task for low-mass spacecraft. This control mechanism facilitates the microsatellite aligning accurately and continuously with a ground station during its rapid orbit. The NorSat-TD incorporates innovative small satellite stability and pointing capabilities, a testament to SFL's expertise honed across dozens of missions. The onboard Small Communication Active Terminal (SmallCAT) laser communication system is the second essential component. This system was developed by a consortium led by TNO (The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research). It comprises a high-quality laser terminal and a fine steering mirror, which is necessary to lock the narrow optical beam precisely onto a ground station beacon. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gmZtFs2X #NorSatTD #SmallCAT #NorwegianSpaceAgency Artist's impression of the NorSat-TD satellite in orbit. (ESA)

Over the past decade, Space has shifted from being a domain of exploration to becoming a critical part of global commerce infrastructure. Today, thousands of satellites are in orbit, many in low Earth orbit (LEO), delivering connectivity, imaging, and data that power everything from precision agriculture to disaster response. Satellite constellations are now fundamental to how we monitor, analyze, and interact with the world around us. We’ve worked with companies developing: - Water-based propulsion systems for small satellites (Deep Space Industries, Inc.) - Antimatter-based thrusters for orbital maneuvering (Positron Dynamics) - Recycled carbon fiber to reduce satellite launch costs (Vartega) - Environmental sensors that integrate with satellite data (SCEPTER) These technologies are not theoretical. They are operational, revenue-generating, and laying the groundwork for the next generation of infrastructure on Earth and in orbit. In my latest post, I explore why space is no longer just the realm of science fiction, and why we’ve been investing in this sector long before it became mainstream. The article also highlights emerging areas we are watching closely: - AI for managing satellite fleets - Wireless energy transmission from space - Global satellite communication networks If you’re working in the space economy or thinking about the next wave of deep tech innovation, I hope this piece offers a useful lens. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gnA9erXS Would love to hear what you’re tracking in this space. Image Credits: NASA #spacetech #satellites #deeptech #venturecapital #futureoftech #startups #spaceeconomy #infrastructure