Draft:Orbion Space Technology
 | This article, Draft:Orbion Space Technology, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Preload talk Inform author |
| This article, Draft:Orbion Space Technology, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Preload talk Inform author |
| This article, Draft:Orbion Space Technology, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Preload talk Inform author |
Comment: might be notable, have done a c/e Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 13:04, 19 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. MrAdamJohnson (talk) 16:18, 19 May 2025 (UTC)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Lyon Brad King, Jason Sommerville |
| Headquarters | Houghton, Michigan |
| Products | Hall-effect Electric Propulsion Systems |
| Website | orbionspace.com |
Orbion Space Technology is a U.S.-based aerospace company that develops and manufactures electric propulsion systems for small satellites. Founded in 2016 in Houghton, Michigan, the company specializes in mass-producible, cost-efficient Hall-effect thrusters and is a domestic supplier of electric propulsion systems for proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations. Orbion's primary product is the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System, which integrates the thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management into a compact, flight-ready package. In 2024, Orbion was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.
History
[edit | edit source]Orbion Space Technology was founded in 2016 by Dr. Lyon (Brad) King and Dr. Jason Sommerville and is based in Houghton, Michigan. The company originated from research and development in electric propulsion conducted at Michigan Technological University and the University of Michigan.[1]Dr. King, a native of Calumet, Michigan, and the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Professor of Space Systems at Michigan Tech, established the university's Ion Space Propulsion Lab (Isp Lab) in 2000. His research focused on plasma propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters. King and Sommerville commercialized their academic research by producing thrusters suitable for the burgeoning small satellite market.[2]
In founding the company, Orbion leveraged resources provided by the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) SmartZone, which offered business development support and access to funding opportunities. In 2017, Orbion received $500,000 at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, which provided early-stage capital.[3]The company has since expanded operations, building a dedicated manufacturing facility and employing more than 70 full-time engineers and PhD-level researchers. The company's growth underscores the potential for high-tech enterprises to thrive outside traditional innovation hubs.[4]
Technology
[edit | edit source]Orbion Space Technology's primary product is the Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System, an integrated electric propulsion solution developed for small satellite platforms. The system is centered around a magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster, which operates by ionizing inert gas (typically xenon or krypton) and accelerating the ions through an electric field to generate thrust.[5]
Facilities
[edit | edit source]Orbion utilizes two primary, AS9100 certified facilities for business operations. The company's Houghton, Michigan headquarters houses office and engineering space, as well as lab and cleanroom spaces. Orbion's second facility hosts the company's acceptance testing and hot-fire facilities which include cleanrooms, test chambers, and a control room. The test chambers can achieve pressures as low as one ten-billionth of an atmosphere and maintain internal temperatures down to -411°F, enabling testing of components under extreme conditions that simulate a space environment.[6][additional citation(s) needed]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).