Neumann Drive
THE NEW STANDARD
FOR IN-SPACE PROPULSION
Our Products
The Neumann Drive’s superior electric propulsion system doesn’t just focus on propulsion performance; it covers the full mission lifecycle.
Our product range covers CubeSat (IoD coming soon), SmallSat (in development) and specific client requirements.
- Simple, solid-state, robust design
- Rapid manufacturing capability
- Availability off-the-shelf fully fueled
- Plug & Play integration
- Ability to fulfil mission requirements
- Safe to handle and operate
- Sustainable propellants
- In-space refueling / mission extension
- Minimal logistics and regulatory paperwork
The Neumann Drive’s unique solid metallic propellant rod is unrivalled in the market. The rod can be made (on Earth and in space) of any solid conductive metals and alloys – including the many tons of various metals already in orbit.
Additional benefits:
- Solid and not subject to phase changes
- Chemically inert
- Non-toxic
- Offers incredible density compared to traditional gas and liquid propellants, without the need for pressurised tanks and neutralisers
- Inherently radiation tolerant
- Available in industrial quantities that are historically not subject to significant price variations
- Ability to refuel in orbit while removing debris.
Our Technology
Our product is a lightweight solar-electric ion thruster.
The Neumann Drive uses our patented Centre-Triggered Pulsed Cathodic Arc Thruster (CTPCAT) technology to convert a solid conductive fuel rod into plasma and produce thrust. The system can use a range of conductive fuels giving unprecedented control over propulsion performance. It can generate high specific impulse levels and provide exceptional Δv.
How does the physics work?
The Neumann Drive
Our propulsion system uses a cathodic arc discharge powered by a capacitor bank. We use high currents in very short sharp pulses at modest voltage to erode material from a solid conductive cathode. The plasma exhaust for each pulse is fully detached, and streams away from the spacecraft with exhaust velocities of tens of kilometres per second, giving the spacecraft its momentum.
This process does not require electrostatic grids, a virtual cathode, or other methods of extracting an ion beam since the plasma acceleration processes are sufficient to eject the plasma. Our system also does not require an exhaust neutraliser, as the electron-rich discharge volume allows the ion beam to self-neutralise.
Vacuum arc technology
The vacuum arc (or cathodic arc) technology inherits from the cathodic arc plasma deposition.
An electric arc discharge is used to vaporise phase transition solid material from a cathode target. Once applied to satellite dynamic, the arc spots generate a force when travelling along the cathode surface for every pulsed discharge (~200us). The patented Pulsed Cathodic Arc Thruster (PCAT) becomes a propulsion system for Space.
Why Pulsed Arc
Arc Triggering
