Fully integrated, flight-proven Hall-effect propulsion system for demanding LEO/MEO/GEO/xGEO missions — radiation-hardened, magnetically shielded, continuously throttleable from 100–300 W.
Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System
Fully integrated, flight-proven Hall-effect propulsion system for demanding LEO/MEO/GEO/xGEO missions — radiation-hardened, magnetically shielded, continuously throttleable from 100–300 W.
Description
Orbion Space Technology's Aurora is a fully integrated Hall-effect propulsion system comprising a magnetically shielded thruster for ultra-long life and high total impulse, a 90%-efficient power processing unit (PPU), a propellant management assembly (PMA), harness assembly, and propellant storage tank. Aurora delivers class-leading thrust-to-power of over 60 mN/kW combined with 1,400 seconds of specific impulse, reducing maneuver time and propulsion system wet mass. The Hall-effect thruster is continuously throttleable from 100 to 300 W, runs on xenon or krypton, and features a patent-pending ZeroTorque™ design that produces zero magnetic moment, eliminating perturbation torques on the spacecraft in LEO — a significant advantage for attitude control. The PPU accepts a 24–35 V unregulated spacecraft bus input via a single 28 V power connection, communicates over RS-422, and offers total ionizing dose (TID) options of 5 krad (Pathfinder), 25 krad (Constellation), or >100 krad (Cislunar). Aurora is built using modern automation — robots and automated test facilities — enabling scalable production from single units to 1,000-unit runs at consistent quality and low cost. The system is available with or without Orbion's patented El Matador collision-avoidance capability. Aurora uses QML/QPL passive components with QML/QPL ceramic actives exceeding 100 krad TID for demanding MEO, GEO, and beyond-GEO missions where reliability and radiation tolerance are driving requirements.
Specifications
| Technology | Hall-effect thruster (HET), magnetically shielded |
|---|---|
| Power range | 100 – 300 W (continuously throttleable) |
| Thrust-to-power | > 60 mN/kW |
| Specific impulse (Xe) | 1,400 s |
| Propellant | Xenon or Krypton |
| System mass (dry) | ~8 kg (not including propellant and tank) |
| Thruster dimensions | 9.2 × 9.8 × 16.7 cm, 1.5 kg |
| PPU dimensions | 26.8 × 19.6 × 9.7 cm, 5.8 kg |
| Pma dimensions | 16.0 × 8.8 × 1.6 cm, 700 g |
| PPU efficiency | 90% |
| PPU input voltage | 24 – 35 V (28 V unregulated S/C bus) |
| Data interface | RS-422 (other options available) |
| TID options | 5 krad (Pathfinder), 25 krad (Constellation), >100 krad (Cislunar) |
| Zerotorque design | Zero magnetic moment — no perturbing magnetic torque on spacecraft |
| Collision avoidance | Optional El Matador collision-avoidance (patented) |
