Pulsar Fusion Awarded ESA Contract to Advance Hall-Effect Thruster Technology

Pulsar Fusion Ltd, a UK-based space propulsion company, has signed an 18-month contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Agency's General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) Element 1, Building Blocks framework.

The project will advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of Pulsar Fusion's 500W Hall-Effect Thruster (HET) from TRL 3 to TRL 6, validating the system's performance and reliability in space-representative environments. The work will be a major step towards full flight qualification and future in-orbit demonstration.

ESA's GSTP Element 1, Building Blocks framework supports the preparation and development of enabling capabilities and critical technologies for space-related systems and associated sub-systems, fostering collaboration between academia and industry across ESA Participating States. The programme's objective is to strengthen Europe's industrial base and enhance its competitiveness in upcoming national and international space missions.

Dr James Lambert, Head of Operations at Pulsar Fusion, said: "This contract marks a key milestone for Pulsar Fusion and for UK electric propulsion. Working with ESA under the GSTP framework enables us to validate our 500W Hall-Effect Thruster in relevant conditions, building confidence in the technology as we move toward flight demonstration and commercial application."

Pulsar Fusion's 500W HET is designed to deliver high-efficiency, low-emission propulsion for small spacecraft. Compact and scalable, it provides a sustainable solution for orbit-raising, station-keeping, and deep-space manoeuvres. The upcoming project will focus on system optimisation, performance testing, and environmental validation.

Richard Dinan, CEO of Pulsar Fusion, commented: "ESA's support is an important endorsement of Pulsar Fusion's growing capabilities in advanced propulsion. This collaboration reflects our shared ambition to deliver cleaner, more efficient technologies that enable sustainable operations in space."

Pulsar Fusion's work supports a broader goal shared by ESA and industry partners: to develop the next generation of propulsion technologies that will make space transportation more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible.

By progressing the TRL of the 500W HET, the company continues to strengthen the UK and Europe's position in sustainable in-space mobility, ensuring the region remains at the forefront of the fast-growing global small satellite propulsion market.

Pulsar Fusion
Unit 21 Peverel Drive, Bletchley, England, MK1 1NN
Press contact: hello@motivepr.co.uk

Pulsar is a clean space propulsion systems and services company delivering intelligent propulsion now and creating the future through fusion applications.

This release was published on openPR.