IENAI Space is expanding the capabilities of small satellite missions through the ATHENA family of electric propulsion systems, a modular propulsion platform built around the company's proprietary electrospray technology. Designed to address the growing demand for efficient, scalable and adaptable spacecraft propulsion solutions, ATHENA enables satellite operators to perform orbit raising, station keeping, constellation management, collision avoidance and end-of-life disposal maneuvers while optimizing spacecraft mass, volume and power consumption. IENAI Space's ATHENA platform has been developed specifically to address these requirements through a flexible product family that supports a wide range of mission profiles and spacecraft classes. Built around electrospray propulsion principles and utilizing ionic liquid propellants, ATHENA is designed to provide precise thrust, high efficiency and mission adaptability within a compact form factor.

At the core of the ATHENA product family is a modular design philosophy intended to provide customers with propulsion solutions tailored to specific mission requirements. IENAI Space has developed ATHENA as a scalable technology platform capable of supporting different power levels, thrust requirements and mission objectives. This modularity allows satellite operators to select propulsion systems that align with their spacecraft size, orbital environment and operational goals. The same underlying electrospray technology can be adapted across multiple performance classes, enabling a consistent propulsion architecture while supporting a broad range of missions. IENAI Space simplifies integration and scalability while allowing customers to access propulsion capabilities that match their specific operational needs. This approach provides flexibility for missions ranging from small CubeSat deployments to more advanced satellite platforms requiring higher levels of maneuverability and propulsion performance. ATHENA is based on electrospray propulsion, an electric propulsion technology that accelerates charged particles derived from ionic liquid propellants to generate thrust. Electrospray propulsion uses electric fields to extract and accelerate ions, producing highly efficient propulsion suitable for precision spacecraft maneuvers. Electrospray propulsion systems are inherently compact, making them particularly suitable for spacecraft operating within strict volume constraints. They also provide fine thrust control, enabling precise orbital adjustments and attitude control activities. A key feature of IENAI Space's approach is the use of proprietary electrospray technology designed to maximize performance while maintaining operational simplicity. By utilizing ionic liquid propellants, ATHENA systems can achieve efficient thrust generation without requiring high-pressure tanks or complex propellant management systems often associated with other propulsion technologies. The result is a propulsion solution optimized for small spacecraft that require efficient maneuverability without significantly increasing system complexity or resource requirements.

One of the defining characteristics of the ATHENA family is the ability to scale across a broad range of power levels. The platform is designed to support propulsion requirements from systems operating at only a few watts of power to future configurations expected to operate at several hundred watts. This scalability enables ATHENA to serve a wide spectrum of spacecraft categories and mission objectives. Lower-power configurations can support CubeSat and nanosatellite missions where electrical power availability is limited, while higher-power variants can provide increased maneuvering capability for larger spacecraft and more demanding mission profiles. The ability to scale propulsion performance without abandoning a common technology base allows mission designers to select propulsion systems appropriate for their operational requirements while maintaining design consistency across multiple programs. As satellite missions become increasingly diverse, ranging from Earth observation and communications to scientific research and in-space logistics, flexible propulsion architectures such as ATHENA offer operators the ability to tailor spacecraft performance according to mission-specific needs. Another important aspect of ATHENA's design philosophy is the adaptable total impulse capability. Total impulse, a key measure of the overall maneuvering capacity available to a spacecraft, can be adjusted by varying the quantity of onboard propellant carried by the satellite. This approach allows mission designers to optimize propulsion resources according to mission duration, orbital requirements and operational objectives. Operators can configure ATHENA systems with the precise amount required for their intended mission profile. The ability to design propellant loading provides benefits in terms of mass efficiency, launch costs and spacecraft optimization. Every kilogram allocated to unnecessary propellant can reduce payload capacity or increase mission expenses. ATHENA's flexible architecture helps address this challenge by allowing propulsion capacity to be matched more closely to operational requirements. This level of customization supports both short-duration missions requiring limited maneuverability and long-duration programs demanding substantial orbital management capabilities.

The ATHENA family employs ionic liquid propellants selected according to mission requirements and performance objectives. Ionic liquids have emerged as an attractive option for electric propulsion systems due to their low vapor pressure, storage stability and suitability for electrospray-based acceleration mechanisms. IENAI Space adapts the propulsion systems by selecting appropriate ionic liquid formulations for different performance classes and mission scenarios. This flexibility allows the company to optimize propulsion characteristics while maintaining compatibility with its underlying electrospray technology platform. The use of ionic liquids also contributes to system compactness and simplifies spacecraft integration compared with some alternative propulsion approaches. By avoiding the need for pressurized gas systems or complex chemical propulsion architectures, ATHENA can maintain a relatively streamlined design suitable for modern small satellite platforms. As electric propulsion technologies continue to evolve, the selection and optimization of propellant technologies remain important factors influencing mission performance, efficiency and operational flexibility. Modern satellite operators increasingly require propulsion systems capable of supporting a variety of mission-critical activities throughout a spacecraft's operational lifetime. ATHENA has been designed to address these needs by enabling a broad range of orbital maneuvers. Orbit raising represents one of the most important applications of electric propulsion, allowing satellites to transition from deployment or transfer orbits into their final operational positions. Once in orbit, propulsion systems can be used for station keeping activities that maintain spacecraft positioning and ensure mission continuity. For constellation operators, ATHENA provides capabilities that support orbital phasing, fleet management and constellation maintenance. The platform can also support collision avoidance maneuvers, enabling satellites to respond to conjunction warnings and reduce the risk of orbital debris incidents. Such capabilities are becoming increasingly important as orbital environments become more congested. ATHENA supports end-of-life disposal strategies designed to help operators comply with emerging sustainability and debris mitigation guidelines. By providing the maneuvering capability required for deorbiting or orbital relocation, the system contributes to responsible spacecraft operations throughout the mission lifecycle.

IENAI Space's ATHENA family reflects the evolving landscape by offering a propulsion platform specifically designed for modern small satellite missions. The combination of modular architecture, electrospray propulsion technology, scalable power configurations, adaptable total impulse and ionic liquid propellants enables operators to configure propulsion systems according to mission-specific requirements. By focusing on flexibility and efficiency, ATHENA supports a broad range of operational scenarios while helping spacecraft operators optimize mass, volume and power resources. As access to space continues to expand and satellite deployments increase worldwide, spacecraft mobility is becoming a critical factor influencing mission success. Satellites that can efficiently maneuver, adapt to changing operational conditions and extend their useful lifetimes offer significant advantages in increasingly competitive and complex orbital environments. Through the development of ATHENA, IENAI Space is contributing to this evolution by providing electric propulsion solutions that enable enhanced spacecraft maneuverability and mission flexibility. The platform's modular design and scalable architecture allow it to support diverse mission profiles while addressing the practical challenges associated with small satellite operations. ATHENA demonstrates how electrospray propulsion technology can provide operators with adaptable and resource-efficient solutions for navigating the evolving space ecosystem.

About IENAI Space

IENAI Space is a space technology company headquartered in Madrid that specializes in the development of electric propulsion systems for small satellites. The company focuses on propulsion technologies designed to support orbit raising, station keeping, constellation management, collision avoidance and end-of-life disposal for spacecraft operating in a variety of orbital environments. The flagship product family, ATHENA, is based on proprietary electrospray propulsion technology and utilizes ionic liquid propellants to provide efficient and scalable propulsion for SmallSats and CubeSats. The modular ATHENA platform is designed to support a range of power and thrust requirements, enabling satellite operators to tailor propulsion performance according to specific mission objectives and spacecraft constraints. Through the electric propulsion solutions, IENAI Space supports commercial, institutional and research missions seeking improved spacecraft maneuverability, operational flexibility and mission lifetime. The company's technologies are developed to address the growing demand for efficient propulsion systems in the evolving small satellite market.

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