Aurora Hall-effect Propulsion System
Orbion Space Technology
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.
Technical 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)
About
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.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.