Aliena thrusters picked for Korean orbital demonstrator

(SpaceEnergy) Singapore propulsion developer Aliena will supply four MUSIC Hall thruster systems for a South Korean spacecraft designed to demonstrate orbital manoeuvring in 2027.

The Space Trajectory Demonstrator 1.0 propulsion system will use four MUSIC 4U units and two xenon tanks, according to a Small Satellite Conference paper authored by Aliena and South Korea’s KAIROSPACE.

The four thrusters will provide up to 12mN of combined thrust and at least 150kNs of planned total impulse for orbit raising.

The 50kg-class microsatellite is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2027 aboard a Korean Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) from South Korea.

Aliena’s MUSIC electric propulsion system is based on a cylindrical Hall thruster architecture. The company says its 4U configuration operates below 100W and can produce up to about 3mN per unit.

The demonstrator’s propulsion programme is following an 18-month development schedule covering system design, assembly, integration and environmental testing.