Phase Four

Phase Four adopts iodine for next-gen Max-V engine
Propulsion startup Phase Four is expanding its Maxwell plasma propulsion line by offering Max-V, an iodine-fueled engine.

Phase Four wins DARPA contract to test novel propellant
Phase Four won a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to demonstrate the California startup’s radio frequency thruster technology with a new propellant.

Phase Four and Orbit Fab to work on Maxwell engine refueling
Propulsion startup Phase Four has signed a memorandum of understanding with satellite refueling startup Orbit Fab aimed at preparing future Phase Four Maxwell engines for on-orbit refueling.

Phase Four debuts improved thruster
Satellite electric propulsion company Phase Four has completed testing of a new thruster that it says offers significantly improved performance.

Phase Four Maxwell to test green propellant
Phase Four plans to fuel its Maxwell engine with a green propellant develop by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a contract the Southern California startup won Aug. 18 at the U.S. Space Force’s first SpaceWERX Pitch Day.

Capella Space and Phase Four reveal Maxwell Engine performance
Capella Space launched its fourth synthetic aperture radar satellite June 29 with a Maxwell electric thruster manufactured by propulsion startup Phase Four.

Phase Four announces new electric thrusters, subscription program
Phase Four announced June 16 two new electric propulsion systems that offer performance and other improvements, along with a subscription service that offers those thrusters to customers at a discount.

Phase Four raises $26 million
Phase Four has raised $26 million in a Series B round that will allow it to accelerate production of its satellite electric propulsion systems.

Phase Four wins Air Force contract for electric thruster development
Phase Four, a startup working on electric propulsion for satellites, has won an Air Force contract to test using an alternative propellant for its thrusters.

Phase Four launches first plasma propulsion systems
Electric propulsion company Phase Four flew its first plasma thrusters on two spacecraft that were part of a SpaceX dedicated rideshare launch Jan. 24.