Letara qualifies CubeSat hybrid thruster for orbital demo

(SpaceEnergy) Japanese propulsion developer Letara has completed ground and environmental qualification of a 2U hybrid chemical thruster ahead of a planned in-orbit demonstration.

The ICR-X system uses high-density polyethylene fuel and nitrous oxide, with an integrated oxidiser tank and combustion chamber, low-power multi-restart ignition and oxidiser-temperature-based thrust control. It provides 1–4N of thrust and about 45N·s total impulse.

Letara said atmospheric and reduced-pressure combustion testing demonstrated reliable ignition and stable five-second burns under both gas-phase-dominant and liquid-phase-dominant oxidiser feed conditions.

The system has also completed vibration, thermal-vacuum and electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility qualification testing, which Letara said verified readiness for spaceflight.

Multiple burns are planned during the upcoming orbital mission to assess ignition, combustion stability and repeatability in space.

The new qualification results are distinct from Letara’s previously reported 20 August funding round, which focused on financing rather than ICR-X test performance.