Aurora Propulsion

Aurora Propulsion Technologies is a Finnish company developing water-based electric propulsion systems and passive deorbiting devices for small satellites. Founded in 2018 and based in Espoo, Finland, the company's signature products include the Aurora Resistojet — a water-propellant resistojet thruster using steam for attitude control and orbit maintenance — and the Aurora Plasma Brake, a passive electrodynamic tether device that uses the interaction with Earth's ionosphere to deorbit satellites without propellant. The plasma brake is particularly notable as it enables CubeSats to comply with emerging regulations requiring deorbit within 5 years of mission end without the weight penalty of a conventional propulsion system. Aurora has flown its propulsion hardware on its own AuroraSat demonstration missions and supplies components to European satellite manufacturers.