Solid State Propulsion

Solid State Propulsion is a South African propulsion company manufacturing compact electric plasma thrusters for nanosatellites and small spacecraft. The company's Vacuum Arc Thruster (VAT) uses pulsed electric arcs to convert solid metal fuel into high-velocity plasma, providing CubeSat-compatible electric propulsion for orbit raising, station keeping, formation flying, and controlled deorbit — applications that previously required dedicated liquid or gas propellant systems. Solid State Propulsion serves the South African and global nanosatellite community with home-grown propulsion technology designed for the smallest spacecraft classes, contributing to Africa's emerging commercial space hardware manufacturing sector.