Hydra Space Water-Based Propulsion System

Hydra Space’s water-based propulsion system is a green propulsion technology tailored to the constraints of PocketQube and CubeSat-class satellites, enabling controlled orbital maneuvers, altitude adjustments, constellation phasing, and deorbit capability without the hazards associated with conventional chemical propellants. The system uses electrolysis — splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen that are then expelled as propellant — yielding a non-toxic, non-pressurized propellant that presents no range safety hazard during satellite integration or launch processing.

Water is inexpensive, widely available, and requires no hazardous materials handling procedures, dramatically simplifying regulatory approval for launch. The energy required for electrolysis is supplied by the satellite’s solar panels, making the system self-contained within a compact form factor compatible with the Hydra Space 2P PocketQube bus and larger CubeSat platforms.

The technology aligns with Hydra Space’s sustainability mission and zero-debris philosophy: by enabling controlled deorbit maneuvers, propulsion-equipped satellites can reliably vacate their orbital slots at end-of-life, meeting increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. This capability is particularly valuable for constellation operators planning multi-satellite deployments who need reliable orbital slot management and collision avoidance capability.

Integration with Hydra Space’s existing satellite bus, ground segment, and cloud APIs means customers access propulsion-enabled platforms within the same turn-key mission framework as non-propulsive configurations, without requiring separate propulsion expertise in-house. The system is part of Hydra Space’s R&D roadmap supported by the ESA BIC Madrid and CDTI-Neotec programs.