Phase Four’s Maxwell propulsion solution. Photo: Phase Four

Phase Four, a provider of electric Radio Frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, revealed that Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems purchased multiple Maxwell thrusters for Tyvak’s expanding portfolio of end-to-end microsatellite solutions. Tyvak selected Maxwell to validate its capability to fulfill multiple mission needs, including orbital adjustments and safe de-orbiting of satellites.

Additionally, Earth observation data company Capella Space purchased six Maxwell engines for initial phase of constellation deployment, with an option to purchase additional Maxwell systems. Capella Space is known for its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology designed to detect sub-meter changes on the Earth’s surface, and plans to deploy a constellation of 36 micro-satellites.

Introduced in November 2018, Phase Four’s Maxwell is the first turnkey RF thruster-based propulsion solution targeted at small satellite constellations. Maxwell aims to bring new small satellite constellations the performance and efficiency of traditional electric engines, while obviating the need for expensive components that have stalled high performance propulsion solutions for small satellites.