FOSSA launches satellite carrying Spanish electric propulsion system

(SpaceEnergy) Spanish satellite developer FOSSA has launched its first spacecraft carrying an IENAI Space electric propulsion system aboard SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 mission, advancing the ATHENA NANO thruster towards orbital demonstration.

SpaceX lists the Falcon 9 rideshare mission as completed on 20 October, following launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

FOSSA identified the payload as its 27th satellite and its first 6U spacecraft equipped with onboard propulsion.

The spacecraft carries IENAI Space's ATHENA NANO, a compact, low-power electric propulsion system using electrospray technology developed in Spain.

The system is intended to provide orbital manoeuvring capability, including orbit correction, collision avoidance and constellation management.

FOSSA's new platform also incorporates communications and software-defined radio capabilities, supporting the company's expanding satellite network.

The two companies originally announced their propulsion partnership on 28 January 2026, followed by confirmation of ATHENA NANO integration into FOSSA's spacecraft in August.

The completed launch represents a subsequent material milestone, distinct from the earlier partnership and hardware integration announcements.

IENAI previously placed another ATHENA NANO unit in orbit aboard an EnduroSat spacecraft launched by Isar Aerospace in September 2026.

The FOSSA mission therefore provides a second orbital platform for the propulsion technology.