MEDIA AND PRESS
PhaseFour In the News
Phase Four is a disruptive provider of next generation electric propulsion (EP) solutions for small satellites. The company was founded in 2015 to address the demands of the rapid proliferation of satellite constellations and to accelerate the advancement of its radio-frequency thruster (RFT). The Phase Four RFT represents a revolutionary new architecture that realizes lower cost, mass-manufacturability, miniaturized power electronics, and propellant agnosticism over incumbent technologies, without compromising performance. In 2021 Phase Four’s Maxwell turn-key propulsion system achieved flight heritage and is now being regularly utilized by small satellite operators. For media/press inquiries, contact us.
Updates
Phase Four Wins AFWERX Funding Boost for Propulsion Tech Development
Propulsion company Phase Four received a funding increase from the Air Force Research Laboratory and its innovation arm AFWERX.
Phase Four’s spacecraft engine first to demo AFRL’s game-changing ‘green’ fuel
Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told Breaking Defense that Phase Four has the potential to “disrupt the in-space propulsion market,” and its technology “is important for the country.”
Phase Four Unveils Game Changing Engine for LEO Constellations
Leveraging its new Block 2 architecture, Phase Four announces Max-V, a revolutionary plasma propulsion system available in 2023
Phase Four adopts iodine for next-gen Max-V engine
Propulsion startup Phase Four is expanding its Maxwell plasma propulsion line by offering Max-V, an iodine-fueled engine.
Jim Bridenstine, Former NASA Administrator, joins Phase Four’s Board of Directors
Bridenstine brings a wealth of industry experience and a commitment to space sustainability
Former NASA administrator joins board of spacecraft propulsion startup Phase Four
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine joined the board of directors of spacecraft propulsion startup Phase Four, the company told CNBC.
Phase Four and Impulse Space to Collaborate on Multi-Mode Propulsion
Phase Four, the creator of the radio-frequency thruster (RF Thruster) for satellite propulsion, announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Impulse Space, a Space 2.0 pioneer providing agile, economical last-mile space payload delivery capabilities.
Maxwell Block 2: Updated ICD & Pricing
Phase Four has just released the updated ICD rev B of our Maxwell Block 2 engine. Please reach out to us directly in order to download the document.
Phase Four to expand engine manufacturing capacity in 2022
Phase Four is building out a new 23,000 sq.ft. production facility to support high volume plasma propulsion engine manufacturing.
Exclusive: Phase Four Inks Deal to Scale Production
El Segundo-based Phase Four today finalized a lease to build a second factory and scale production of its Maxwell engine product line. The new Hawthorne facility will be over 3X larger than Phase Four’s current plant, and capable of cranking out 100 engines a year.
Opinion: Make The U.S. Electric Propulsion Supply Chain More Secure
For most of the last decade, the U.S. relied almost entirely on Russia for rocket engines and crewed launches into space.
Phase Four Hires Former SpaceX Attorney Margaret Abernathy as General Counsel
Phase Four expands its leadership team to support the company’s rapid growth in both the commercial and government markets.
Phase Four wins DARPA contract to test novel propellant
Phase Four won a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to demonstrate the California startup’s radio frequency thruster technology with a new propellant
Phase Four Awarded Novel Thruster Prototype Development Contract by DARPA
The Company will adapt its versatile radio-frequency thruster to operate on novel, low cost propellants.
Phase Four and Orbit Fab to work on Maxwell engine refueling
Propulsion startup Phase Four has signed a memorandum of understanding with satellite refueling startup Orbit Fab aimed at preparing future Phase Four Maxwell engines for on-orbit refueling.
2021 by the Numbers & a Sneak Preview of 2022
2021 has been by far the most significant year in the history of Phase Four
PhaseFour Debuts Improved Thruster
Satellite electric propulsion company Phase Four has completed testing of a new thruster that it says offers significantly improved performance
Phase Four Reveals Next Generation RF Thruster Performance
In the wake of delivering its 10th flight unit, Phase Four announces 85%+ performance improvement in 2nd generation thruster
Phase Four Aims To Roll Out Its Next-Gen Plasma Thruster In The First Half Of 2022
Space startup Phase Four will be rolling out the next generation of its Maxwell radio-frequency plasma propulsion system next year
High Performance with Low Average Power
Phase Four’s Maxwell engines deliver high end plasma performance with novel high duty cycle operations
Phase Four Wins U.S. Space Force Contract at SpaceWERX Pitch Day
Phase Four’s propellant-agnostic RF Thruster is poised to enable new ‘multi-mode’ propulsion capabilities on government and commercial spacecraft.