MEDIA AND PRESS

Phase Four 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.

 

media@phasefour.io

Updates

Maxwell Block engines

PhaseFour Debuts Improved Thruster

December 6, 2021

Satellite electric propulsion company Phase Four has completed testing of a new thruster that it says offers significantly improved performance

RF Thruster

Phase Four Reveals Next Generation RF Thruster Performance

December 1, 2021

In the wake of delivering its 10th flight unit, Phase Four announces 85%+ performance improvement in 2nd generation thruster

3 Maxwell Block 1 engines during one of Phase Four's 2021 Production Runs

Phase Four Aims To Roll Out Its Next-Gen Plasma Thruster In The First Half Of 2022

December 1, 2021

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

High Performance with Low Average Power

September 23, 2021

Phase Four’s Maxwell engines deliver high end plasma performance with novel high duty cycle operations

Phase Four Propellant

Phase Four Wins U.S. Space Force Contract at SpaceWERX Pitch Day

August 25, 2021

Phase Four’s propellant-agnostic RF Thruster is poised to enable new ‘multi-mode’ propulsion capabilities on government and commercial spacecraft.

PPU - Maxwell

The Second Silver Bullet

August 11, 2021

RFT also possesses a second silver bullet: the power electronics are much simpler than legacy EP systems, making them highly compact, and significantly lighter.

Earth with lit up around

Phase Four Offers Proposal Package for the SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer

July 23, 2021

Phase Four’s flight proven electric propulsion systems dramatically reduce costs and lead times for satellite constellation manufacturing and deployment

Phase Four Maxwell Block Production

Capella Space and Phase Four reveal Maxwell Engine Performance

June 30, 2021

Capella Space launched its fourth synthetic aperture radar satellite June 30 with a Maxwell electric thruster manufactured by propulsion startup Phase Four.

Phase Four Maxwell Engines

Phase Four Sees Fourth Maxwell Engine Launch with Capella Space SAR Satellite on SpaceX Dedicated Rideshare Launch

June 30, 2021

Phase Four announced that a Maxwell engine was launched onboard a Capella Space SAR satellite on the SpaceX Transporter-2 dedicated rideshare launch on June 30th. This marks the company’s fourth engine sent to space with Capella since January 24th of 2021.

Phase Four Maxwell Engines

Phase Four Announces New Electric Thrusters, Subscription Program

June 16, 2021

Phase Four announced June 16 two new electric propulsion systems that offer performance and other improvements, along with a subscription service that offers those thrusters to customers at a discount.

Phase Four Maxwell Engines

Phase Four Rasies $26M Series B Led by New Science Ventures

June 11, 2021

Phase Four, the creator of the radio-frequency thruster for satellite propulsion, announced today that it has closed a Series B investment round of $26 million. The round was led by New Science Ventures LLC (“NSV”), a leading venture capital firm focused on building companies that leverage breakthrough science to create extraordinary value.

Phase Four Xenon

Phase Four Wins Air Force Contract for Electric Thruster Development

April 8, 2021

Phase Four announced April 8 it received a $750,000 Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program to test using iodine as a propellant in the company’s Maxwell electric thrusters. The award will fund work on a prototype version of that thruster.

Maxwell with remove before flight tag

Phase Four Launches First Plasma Propulsion Systems

January 25, 2021

Phase Four announces it flew its first plasma thrusters on two spacecraft that were part of a SpaceX dedicated rideshare launch Jan. 24.

Marubeni Update

Phase Four Inks Partnership with Marubeni

May 18, 2020

Marubeni will be an exclusive representative of Phase Four’s Maxwell engines in Japan. In addition, Marubeni will represent Phase Four is strategic markets around the world to meet the needs of next generation spacecraft.

AFWERX Logo Black

Phase Four Wins AFWERX Phase I SBIR Award

March 17, 2020

Phase Four will work with the Air Force to adapt its revolutionary Maxwell in-space propulsion system to meet the needs of defense users.