Nexus delivers significantly increased thrust and enhanced orbit-raising capabilities for spacecrafts up to 500 kg. Accepting orders now for delivery in Q4 2026.
The latest evolution of Enpulsion innovation, our most powerful propulsion system to date delivers high power and thrust with unrivaled impulse density.
For small satellites requiring next-gen propulsion, Nexus offers higher thrust, greater agility, and seamless integration.
Built on the proven TRL 9 and MRL 9 heritage of our Micro R3, this breakthrough innovation delivers a superior thrust-to-power ratio while maintaining Enpulsion’s hallmark simplicity and reliability. Ideal for constellations, responsive missions, and advanced maneuvering or deorbit operations, Nexus brings powerful mobility to critical missions.
Expanding the Possibilities of Electric Propulsion
Mature Technology
Flight-Proven Foundation
Built on the in-orbit success of over 280 flight-proven propulsion systems, Nexus Osprey leverages years of insights gained through production experience across diverse mission profiles.
Redundant Reliability
Built-In System Resilience
With approximately 480 ion emission sites and parallel high-voltage supplies, Nexus Osprey design offers exceptional resilience and system-level robustness.
High Impulse. Low Mass.
Compact Performance Boost
Delivering up to 4500s specific impulse with a propellant four times denser than xenon, Nexus Osprey packs high performance into a compact architecture.
Thrust-To-Power Ratio
Optimized Thrust Efficiency
Optimized for power and performance, Nexus Osprey increases thrust-to-power efficiency over lower-power systems by intelligently scaling beam output.
Streamlined Integration
Plug-and-Play Design
Thanks to its design without tanks or fluidic systems, Nexus Osprey installs via standard mounting panels and harnessing, connecting within a 15-inch ESPA-class ring.
Debris Safety
Inherent Operational Safety
With no pressurized tanks or stored chemical energy, the system eliminates explosive risk during active operation or in-orbit collisions, enhancing overall spacecraft safety.
Indium Propellant
Stable, Safe Fuel Source
Indium is a nontoxic, unpressurized metal sourced as a by-product of zinc refining. More than 1,000 tons are produced annually, offering a stable, accessible, and safe propellant option.
Development Schedule
With a clearly defined launch plan, Nexus is positioned to support confident mission planning and early engagement. The timeline below highlights key milestones in development, qualification, and delivery.
Use Cases
Orbit raise and deorbit for SDA-class buses
(150—500 kg)
Constellation phasing, maintenance, and maneuvering
Alternative to Hall Effect Thrusters in the smallsat class
Agile defense and government missions
(e.g., SDA, MDA, tech demos)
Modular, clusterable solution for customizable spacecraft builds
Non-ITAR customers seeking compact, high-thrust electric propulsion
Stationkeeping and deorbit support for larger platforms
(using secondary thrusters)
Indium Powered Propulsion
Indium is a nontoxic, unpressurized metal sourced as a by-product of zinc refining. More than 1,000 tons are produced annually, offering a stable, accessible, and safe propellant option.
Next-Level Maneuverability
Indium propellant liquifies in orbit to generate finely tunable thrust, delivering efficient, precise maneuverability throughout the entire life of the mission.
Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) is a type of electric propulsion that uses electrostatic fields to extract and accelerate ions from a liquid metal propellant, producing thrust. It is known for its extremely precise thrust control, making it ideal for applications that require high-precision positioning in space.
How it works:
Liquid Metal Propellant – uses low-melting-point metals like Cesium or Indium as fuel
Electrostatic Extraction – a sharp metal emitter is charged to a high voltage forming a strong electric field
Ion Emission – the field is strong enough to extract individual metal ions from the liquid surface, forming an ion beam
Acceleration – these charged particles are accelerated to high velocities by the electric field to generate thrust
Charge Neutralization – an external electron source (neutralizer) ensures the spacecraft remains electrically neutral
Indium (In) is a soft, silvery-white metal with atomic number 49. It is commonly used in electronics, semiconductors, and coatings due to its excellent conductivity. Indium is non-toxic, nonreactive and nonradioactive, making it a safe and easy to handle.
INDIUM HAS SEVERAL IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES AS A PROPELLANT:
It is compact due to its higher density — The graph above presents a comparison of tank sizes between the ENPULSION MICRO and a Hall-Effect thruster (operating at 1 200 s ISP @ 100 w) of same total impulse using different propellants.
Thrusters are shipped full — Propulsion systems using other propellants usually have to be shipped empty and filled at the launch facility, introducing additional expenses and procedures.
It is safe — Indium is non-toxic and easier to handle than other propellants. It is stored, unpressurized and, unlike high pressure tanks, it does not need special authorizations (launch waivers) to be launched as secondary payloads, and is RoHS and REACH compliant.
It is readily available — Indium is currently a by-product of zinc refining and benefits from industrial scale production. Since peaking at $700 / kg in 2007 indium prices have stayed below $400 / kg.
FEEP thrusters can be used for precise spacecraft maneuvers, including station-keeping, orbit raising, formation flying, collision avoidance, and drag compensation. Their high precision and controllability make them ideal for missions requiring fine attitude adjustments.
Alpha (α) emitters provide the best balance between price, performance, and guaranteed delivery times. This is the perfect solution for commercial constellation applications.
Gamma (γ) emitters are hand-picked for their guaranteed peak performance and are especially appropriate for your missions in deep space, exploration, and others where emitter output needs to be taken to extremes.
Most electric propulsion systems operate at a fixed power point, so they are typically characterized by a single thrust and specific impulse value. FEEP thrusters are different. They operate across a wide power range, and as a result, both thrust and specific impulse vary with input power.
This is why the data sheet shows a curve rather than a single point. As power increases, thrust and Isp both change, and not always in a linear way. Higher power generally produces more thrust and higher Isp, but the relationship depends on how the thruster is tuned.
This flexibility allows the system to adapt performance to the mission. You can operate it more efficiently when needed or increase thrust for faster maneuvers. The performance curve captures this range of operating modes.
Yes, our products are classified as “dual-use” items and as such are subject to dual-use export controls. Therefore, depending on the end-use and country of destination, an export license may be required. Deliveries within the European Union and the United States generally do not require an export license.
ENPULSION offers some of the fastest lead times in the satellite propulsion industry. Our standard delivery times vary by product and model type:
ENPULSION NANO LARK
Flight hardware: 30 weeks typical (can be reduced to 24 weeks with an express fee)
Engineering or qualification models (EMs/EQMs): 24 weeks typical (can be reduced to 12 weeks with an express fee)
ENPULSION MICRO STARLING
Flight hardware: 30 weeks typical (can be reduced to 24 weeks with an express fee)
Engineering or qualification models (EMs/EQMs): 24 weeks typical (can be reduced to 12 weeks with an express fee)
Additional Notes:
ENPULSION lead times are significantly shorter than many other satellite propulsion systems, reflecting our streamlined production and in-house manufacturing capabilities
In select high-priority cases, ultra-accelerated lead times of one month or less may be possible; these are handled on a case-by-case basis and are not part of our standard offering
Larger or recurring orders may qualify for favorable terms, including reserved production slots, optimized delivery scheduling, or volume pricing based on planning visibility and contract structure