NanoAvionics Propulsion

NanoAvionics Propulsion is the dedicated propulsion division of NanoAvionics (Kongsberg NanoAvionics), the Vilnius, Lithuania-based small satellite bus manufacturer that has established itself as one of the world's leading external producers of nanosatellites and microsatellites. The propulsion division develops and manufactures the Electric Propulsion Subsystem (EPSS) — an integrated green monopropellant thruster system — as an off-the-shelf propulsion module compatible with NanoAvionics standard 6U-16U CubeSat and microsatellite platform families, as well as standalone supply to third-party satellite builders.

The EPSS uses ammonium dinitramide (ADN)-based liquid propellant — marketed as LMP-103S (also known by the trade name HPGP, High Performance Green Propellant) — a non-toxic, non-carcinogenic alternative to hydrazine. LMP-103S delivers approximately 12% higher specific impulse than hydrazine monopropellant at comparable thrust levels, without requiring the specialized handling infrastructure, ITAR restrictions, and safety measures associated with the toxic hypergolic propellant. This makes green monopropellant propulsion systems particularly attractive for university satellite programs, international customers, and commercial operators seeking to reduce launch manifest integration complexity.

The EPSS is integrated as a hot-swappable module into NanoAvionics' CubeSat buses, providing mission designers with a straightforward upgrade path from cold gas or passive attitude-only configurations to fully propulsive missions capable of orbit raising, inclination changes, deorbit compliance, and formation flying maneuvers. NanoAvionics' constellation manufacturing capability — the company won a €122.5 million contract to build 280 satellites for the Meridian Space (SpinLaunch) broadband constellation — means EPSS propulsion systems will fly in significant volume.

The propulsion division benefits from NanoAvionics' position within Kongsberg Gruppen's defense and aerospace supply chain, which provides access to flight-qualification infrastructure and manufacturing quality systems. The division competes with Bradford ECAPS (the originator of LMP-103S green propellant systems), Enpulsion, and Aerojet Rocketdyne's green propellant thrusters for the smallsat propulsion market.