Aurora Propulsion Technologies, a Finnish space technology company specializing in satellite mobility, propulsion, collision avoidance and end-of-life deorbiting systems, continues to expand the position in the global SmallSat and CubeSat market through a portfolio of innovative products designed to improve mission performance while supporting the sustainable use of space. Aurora Propulsion Technologies has responded to these requirements by developing modular, scalable and flight-proven solutions that combine operational efficiency with sustainability. The company's product portfolio is centered around three core technologies: the Aurora Resistojet Module (ARM), the Aurora Plasma Brake (APB) and the Multi-Modal Electric Propulsion Engine (MEPE). These systems provide satellite operators with comprehensive capabilities ranging from orbit control and collision avoidance to long-term mission management and responsible deorbiting.
Aurora Resistojet Module (ARM): Water-Based Propulsion for Precise Satellite Control
One of Aurora's flagship product families is the Aurora Resistojet Module (ARM), a compact propulsion system built around miniature water resistojet thrusters. Designed specifically for SmallSats, CubeSats and PicoSats, the ARM platform provides a practical and efficient means of performing orbital maneuvers while maintaining a small spacecraft footprint. Aurora's resistojet technology utilizes water as its primary propellant, creating a safer and more operationally flexible solution. The ARM thruster technology is particularly notable for the miniature design. Individual thrusters weigh approximately one gram, enabling highly flexible multi-thruster configurations even on very small satellites. This lightweight architecture allows mission designers to incorporate advanced propulsion capabilities without significantly affecting payload allocation or overall spacecraft mass budgets. The system's modular design further enables customization of tank capacities and thruster arrangements to meet specific mission requirements. Aurora offers both off-the-shelf solutions and customized configurations for applications such as formation flying, proximity operations, attitude control, orbit maintenance and precision maneuvering.
Aurora Resistojet Module (ARM-O): Orbit Control and Mission Extension
The ARM-O (Aurora Resistojet Module for Orbit Control) has been developed to provide reliable propulsion for collision avoidance maneuvers, orbit maintenance and small orbital adjustments. By utilizing water as propellant, the system combines operational safety with efficient performance, enabling satellite operators to maintain precise control throughout a mission's lifetime. The ARM-O platform is particularly suitable for spacecraft requiring regular orbital corrections or constellation maintenance activities. The system delivers significantly improved thrust-to-power performance compared to Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technologies while providing approximately double the specific impulse of conventional cold gas propulsion systems. The result is a compact and efficient propulsion solution capable of extending mission lifetimes and improving overall spacecraft operational flexibility. The ARM-O system has been designed for satellites ranging from small CubeSats to larger SmallSat platforms. The modular architecture enables mission-specific designing while preserving a straightforward integration process. For operators deploying satellite constellations, such flexibility can be critical for maintaining orbital spacing, supporting formation flying missions and ensuring long-term operational effectiveness.
ARM-C: Dedicated Collision Avoidance Capability
As concerns over orbital congestion continue to increase, collision avoidance has become a key operational requirement for satellite operators. Aurora addresses this challenge with the ARM-C, a dedicated collision avoidance propulsion module specifically engineered for CubeSats and SmallSats. The ARM-C is an extremely compact system, occupying only approximately 0.05U of spacecraft volume while weighing around 100 grams. Despite the small size, the module provides an effective means of performing collision avoidance maneuvers that can protect valuable spacecraft assets and reduce mission risks. A single unit can support satellites weighing up to 25 kilograms, while multiple units can be integrated to accommodate spacecraft masses of up to approximately 300 kilograms. This scalability makes the ARM-C suitable for a broad range of missions and constellation architectures. The plug-and-play design further simplifies spacecraft integration and reduces implementation complexity for satellite manufacturers. By enabling rapid and reliable maneuvering capability, the ARM-C contributes to safer orbital operations and helps operators comply with evolving space traffic management and collision mitigation requirements.
Aurora Plasma Brake (APB): Propellant-Free Deorbiting for Space Operations
Aurora has established itself as a leader in sustainable satellite end-of-life management through the Aurora Plasma Brake (APB) product family. The APB is a propellant-free deorbiting system that uses an innovative approach to reduce orbital altitude and facilitate spacecraft disposal at the end of a mission. The Plasma Brake deploys an electrically charged microtether that interacts with ionospheric plasma to generate a Coulomb drag force. This force gradually slows the spacecraft and lowers its orbit until atmospheric reentry occurs. Aurora's Plasma Brake technology remains effective at orbital altitudes up to approximately 1,000 kilometers, making it suitable for a wide range of Low Earth Orbit missions. Because the system does not require propellant, it offers satellite operators a highly efficient method of meeting increasingly stringent deorbiting requirements imposed by regulatory agencies and space sustainability guidelines. The APB-S (Small Plasma Brake) has been specifically designed for CubeSat missions. Configured to fit within the commonly used TunaCan volume allocation, the system can deploy up to 400 meters of tether and is effective for satellites weighing up to approximately 100 kilograms. The compact design enables CubeSat operators to integrate deorbiting capability without sacrificing significant payload volume. The APB-S supports responsible mission completion by ensuring spacecraft can be removed from orbit after operational activities have concluded. Aurora is also developing a fully independent version of the APB-S intended to help operators comply with stringent deorbiting requirements without requiring extensive platform reliability analyses. Such capabilities are becoming increasingly important as regulators and industry stakeholders focus on reducing orbital debris and preserving long-term access to valuable orbital environments. For larger spacecraft, Aurora offers the APB-L (Large Plasma Brake), a system capable of deploying tether lengths of up to 5,000 meters. The APB-L is designed for SmallSat missions and can support Designed-for-Demise (D4D) satellites operating at typical LEO altitudes. The technology provides highly independent deorbiting capability with minimal platform requirements, reducing integration complexity while maintaining strong deorbiting performance.
Multi-Modal Electric Propulsion Engine (MEPE): Combining High Thrust and High Efficiency
Aurora's propulsion portfolio is further strengthened by the Multi-Modal Electric Propulsion Engine (MEPE), a next-generation propulsion system developed to support both advanced LEO missions and deep-space exploration. The MEPE combines two propulsion technologies within a single integrated architecture: Hall-effect propulsion for efficient orbital transfers and resistojet propulsion for precise attitude control and maneuvering. By integrating both capabilities into a unified system with a shared propellant tank and management infrastructure, Aurora aims to simplify spacecraft design while maximizing mission flexibility. The MEPE occupies approximately 5U of spacecraft volume and has been designed to support satellites weighing up to around 150 kilograms for orbital maneuvering applications, with mission demonstrations indicating broader scalability. The system's Hall-effect thruster provides the high specific impulse necessary for major orbital changes and deep-space trajectories, while the resistojet thrusters deliver precise control for attitude adjustments and tactical maneuvers. This multimodal approach enables spacecraft to perform a wider range of mission functions without requiring multiple separate propulsion subsystems. By combining high thrust and high impulse characteristics within a compact platform, the system is well-suited for constellation deployment, orbit transfers, exploration missions and advanced spacecraft operations with efficiency and maneuverability.
A defining characteristic of Aurora Propulsion Technologies' product strategy is its emphasis on both economic value and sustainability. The company's propulsion and deorbiting solutions are designed to maximize return on investment by extending mission lifetimes, reducing operational risks, enabling collision avoidance and supporting regulatory compliance. Orbit maintenance capabilities help operators preserve mission effectiveness, while failure-tolerant deorbiting technologies ensure responsible end-of-life disposal. Aurora's modular design philosophy also enables customers to select cost-effective off-the-shelf products or pursue highly customized configurations designed to unique mission profiles. This flexibility has become increasingly important as satellite operators pursue diverse applications ranging from Earth observation and communications to scientific research, defense missions and deep-space exploration. By combining propulsion, maneuverability, collision avoidance and debris mitigation within an integrated product ecosystem, Aurora Propulsion Technologies continues to position itself as a key contributor to the future of sustainable satellite operations. Aurora's product families demonstrate how innovative engineering can simultaneously enhance mission capability, improve economic performance and support the long-term sustainability of the space environment. Aurora Propulsion Technologies remains focused on delivering scalable propulsion and deorbiting technologies that help satellite operators navigate increasingly complex orbital ecosystems while maintaining mission success and regulatory compliance.
About Aurora Propulsion Technologies
Aurora Propulsion Technologies is a space technology company headquartered in Espoo, Finland, specializing in satellite propulsion, mobility, collision avoidance and deorbiting solutions for SmallSats, CubeSats and other satellite platforms. Founded in Finland, the company develops technologies that help satellite operators perform orbital maneuvers, maintain operational spacecraft, avoid collisions and responsibly remove satellites from orbit at the end of their missions. Aurora's product portfolio includes the Aurora Resistojet Module (ARM) for orbit control and collision avoidance, the Aurora Plasma Brake (APB) propellant-free deorbiting system and the Multi-Modal Electric Propulsion Engine (MEPE) for advanced satellite maneuvering. The company's technologies are designed to support mission flexibility, regulatory compliance and space sustainability through modular and scalable architectures. By combining propulsion and end-of-life disposal capabilities, Aurora Propulsion Technologies provides solutions that enable satellite operators to improve mission performance while contributing to the long-term sustainability of the orbital environment. The company serves commercial, governmental and research organizations involved in satellite deployment and operations worldwide.
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