ABOUT
OUR MISSION
Above everything else, our team is the key to our success. We are engineers assembled from the launch, spacecraft operations, defense, aerospace, and automotive industries. No matter what time, we are here to deliver plasma propulsion systems and get the job done.
Phase Four Executive Team
Chief Executive Officer
Steve Kiser
President and CTO
Umair
Siddiqui
- Plasma physicist and engineer with 10+ years of experience designing, building, and using radio-frequency plasma systems
- Leads development of Phase Four’s “Radio Frequency Thruster”
VP, Advanced Development
Jason
Wallace
- 12+ years of space operations and PM experience
- Experience supporting launch vehicle programs ranging from $1M-$1B+
- Air Force officer supporting launch vehicle tech roadmap and capabilities dev
General
Counsel
Margaret Abernathy
- 15 years of experience in defense, aerospace and technology industries
- Previously spent 8+ years at Am Law 100 national law firms counseling a wide variety of growth-stage start-ups and tech companies
- Prior satellite systems engineer
Board of
Directors
Jim
Bridenstine
- NASA Administrator (2018-2021)
- Oversaw US commercial resupply of ISS
- Oversaw US astronauts launched from US soil
- Initiated Artemis Program
- Initiated Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program
What We're Doing
Phase Four is developing a new paradigm of in-space propulsion for the rapidly expanding space economy. From large constellations in LEO to new missions and cutting edge capabilities, our team is the key to mission success. We are focused, innovative and passionate about space. And above all else, we work together to get the job done.
Production Approach
Phase Four’s Maxwell RF thruster does not implement cathodes anywhere in the system. This eliminates the choke point slowing down manufacturing of traditional plasma propulsion systems.
At Phase Four, we build propulsion systems in runs on a planned production schedule. This allows customers to sign up for units as long as the production run has not commenced, reducing lead times to as short as 3-4 months. We aim for 3-4 production runs per year and each run is comprised of assembly, checkout, and acceptance testing. Take a look at our production schedule below to plan ordering your next Maxwell propulsion system.
Timeline
2013-2015
Developed and Tested
Electrodeless RF thruster for cubesats is developed and tested within University of Michigan’s PEPL (Plasmadynamic & Electric Propulsion Laboratory) alongside NASA and DARPA
March 2015
Incorporation
Phase Four incorporates
August 2015
DARPA Contract
Awarded DARPA contract for development of the Cubesat Ambipolar Thruster (cubesat precursor to the RF Thruster)
December 2016
First Thrust Validation
First thrust validation at the Aerospace Corporation
October 2017
Measurements of Radiofrequency Thruster
Phase Four releases first performance measurements of its radiofrequency thruster
May 2018
First Qualification
Flight qualification of a cubesat RF thruster
January 2019
Initial Design
Initial Maxwell Block 1 design and first commercial sales
May 2020
Awarded US Air Force Phase 1 SBIR
Awarded US Air Force Phase 1 SBIR through AFWERX to explore alternatives to noble gas propellants
January 2021
Sent Maxwell to Space
Phase Four sends its first Maxwell Block 1 engines to space with commercial small satellites demonstrating clean sheet to on orbit product capability in less than two years
April 2021
AFWERX SBIR Award
Awarded US Air Force Phase I SBIR through AFWERX to explore high power performance of Phase Four’s RF Thruster
April 2021
Maxwell on Iodine
Received US Air Force Phase II SBIR funds through AFWERX to adapt its Maxwell engine to operate on iodine
June 2021
P4 Pass Subscription Program
Phase Four announces innovative subscription program, P4 Pass
June 2021
Series B Round
Announcement of $26mm Series B round led by New Science Ventures
August 2021
Awarded SBIR Phase II Space Force contract
Awarded SBIR Phase II Space Force contract to develop the world’s first multi-mode thruster operating on US Air Force’s green propellant, ASCENT (formerly AF-M315E)
