Plasma satellite propulsion startup Phase Four: We’re already booking commercial orders

by Peter B. de Selding

PARIS — Whether it’s mission requirements as smallsat applications expand, or regulatory requirements as space traffic management and collision avoidance emerge as issues, smallsat propulsion is hotly competed market now.

Some customers apparently don’t require an in-orbit demonstration before making orders, which may help explain why startup satellite electric propulsion companies tend to mumble when asked to identify customers or backlog figures.

Phase Four is one of those. With an interesting AIAA paper, an Aerospace Corp. testing program, a NASA order and a DARPA contract under its . . .

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