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Momentus’ Pioneering Propulsion System Successfully Completes Initial Tests in Space
Solar Powered System Uses Water as Propellant SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) ("Momentus" or the "Company"), a U.S.
About this update from Momentus Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nSolar Powered System Uses Water as Propellant\n\n SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nMomentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) (\"Momentus\" or the \"Company\"), a U.S. commercial space company that offers transportation and other in-space infrastructure services, today announced that the Company has successfully completed the initial test sequence on-orbit of its pioneering Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) that relies on solar power and uses distilled water as a propellant.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230330005876/en/\nThe MET is the Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle’s (OSV) primary propulsion method that produces thrust by expelling extremely hot gases through a rocket nozzle. Unlike a conventional chemical rocket engine, which creates thrust through a chemical reaction, the MET is designed to create a plasma and thrust using solar power to drive a microwave energy source that heats the water propellant. Momentus has two patents in support of this proprietary propulsion technology. View video of MET ground testing here.\n\n“The MET technology is central to our transportation services, empowering us to offer custom and precise orbital deliveries for customers, and we’re encouraged to see initial testing of the technology on-orbit in space performing the way we anticipated from our ground testing,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “We’ll be ramping up testing of the MET over the coming weeks as we look to push its performance in space. The Momentus team has worked incredibly hard to get us to this point. That focus will continue as we aim to advance our sustainable propulsion system that meets a market need and offers advantages over traditional chemical and electric propulsion systems.”\n\nThe recent MET testing done on-orbit included multiple test firings of the thruster that imparted forces on the Vigoride-5 spacecraft. These forces can change the orbital velocity of the spacecraft, allowing the orbit to be adjusted, changing parameters such as altitude and orbital inclination. This capability will allow Momentus to deliver its customers’ payloads to custom orbits. Momentus plans to demonstrate changes in spacecraft altitude and orbital inclination during the current Vigoride-5 mission.\n\n“The MET concept has been studied in academ...