Phase Four
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.
Capella Space gets ready for primetime as constellation operator
“When Sequoia data come out, I want to wow people,” said Capella CEO Payam Banazadeh. “I want them to say, ‘I can’t believe that image came from a small satellite.’”
Phase Four wins orders for smallsat electric thrusters
Phase Four, a startup developing electric propulsion systems for small satellites, has won its first major orders for those thrusters from two companies.
Phase Four aims for constellation orders
Phase Four, an El Segundo, California startup, is expanding its leadership team as part of a campaign to direct its advanced electric propulsion system toward the growing satellite constellation market.
More startups are pursuing cubesats with electric thrusters
As concerns grow about orbital debris and the need for space traffic management, cubesats without propulsion have no means to maneuver to avoid collisions or deorbit at the end of their operational lives.
Phase Four wins NASA and commercial deals for electric propulsion system
Phase Four, a company developing an advanced electric propulsion system for use on cubesats and larger spacecraft, announced sales of its thrusters to NASA and Astro Digital May 24.
