The problem:
The space industry is evolving. We’re moving from the conventional large, costly platforms, towards global constellations of thousands of identical, downsized satellites. Once launched, these satellites use on-board propulsion to reach their operational orbit, where they begin delivering the global services we rely on daily, including the internet, Earth observation and IoT services. However, current on-board propulsion technologies require 3 to 6 months to reach their operational orbit, significantly delaying operator revenues.
The solution:
OhmSpace’s breakthrough in resistojet technology delivers 10x quicker satellite set-up, with its higher thrust-to-power ratio, and 3x lower production costs than the Hall Effect Thruster (HET) technology used today in mega-constellations.
The global space economy is poised to become the next trillion-dollar industry by 2040.
Of this, the global satellite manufacturing market is currently worth $12.2 billion, with satellite propulsion taking up around 10% of this market — a figure that is set to double in the next six years. This growth is driven by the implementation of large satellite constellations, and OhmSpace is ideally placed to take advantage of this emerging opportunity. Over the next 12 to 18 months, we aim to raise a first round of investment, growing the team and advancing the technology readiness level to prepare for our first in-orbit demonstration in 2023.
Traction:
- Received an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account grant, to develop the minimum viable product demonstrator to TRL 6, in collaboration with a consortium including a potential early adopter.
- OhmSpace’s CEO attended the ongoing Catalyst accelerator programme, provided by the University of Southampton Science Park.
- 2021: OhmSpace was selected in the Quasar Project as one of the six most promising early-stage ventures in the space sector.
Associated Programme
