Exotrail will provide Blue Canyon Technologies with electric propulsion systems for NASA’s INCUS mission

Exotrail signed its first contract with Blue Canyon Technologies, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies. The U.S. based small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider selected Exotrail, an end-to-end space mobility solutions provider, to embark Exotrail’s spaceware™ propulsion systems aboard the company’s Venus-class microsatellite platform, which will be used for NASA’s INCUS mission. 

Three Exotrail spaceware™ flight models will be delivered for the American scientific mission, aiming to study convective storm formation and their effects on weather and climate change. The mission is expected to launch in 2026. 

Exotrail’s spaceware™ portfolio, with nano, micro, mini and cluster product configurations, is a flexible, high-thrust electric Hall-effect propulsion system for satellites ranging from 10 to 1,000 kg. With its high thrust capability and modularity, spaceware™ drastically improves satellite deployment, increases service performance, and helps reduce space pollution.

“Exotrail is a leading provider of robust Micro Hall-Effect Thruster technology capable of reliable and consistent performance needed for this mission. We are excited to see the capabilities they will bring to our Venus-class microsat platform and the mission goals that we can achieve together.”, said Jeff Watts, General Manager for Blue Canyon Technologies.  

As the second contract signed with a US-based satellite manufacturer since the start of 2023, Exotrail’s momentum in the region is ramping up in line with its strategy of rapid international expansion.

“The Exotrail team is extremely proud of this new contract. Working with the BCT team for a NASA JPL mission is a privilege. It not only underlines the relevance of our spaceware™ solutions for a critical space asset but is also a way for Exotrail to contribute to a key mission, making life safer on Earth and monitoring climate change.” said Jean Luc Maria, Exotrail’s CEO.

About Exotrail 

Exotrail is an end-to-end space mobility operator. The company offers customers the ability to define their space mobility needs with the spacestudio™ mission analysis software, meet those needs with spaceware™ onboard propulsion systems and spacedrop™ in-space mobility services, and operate their solutions with the spacetower™ software. This complete mobility offering called mobilityhub™ allows satellites to optimize their deployment, increase their service performance, and reduce space pollution. Exotrail was incorporated in 2017 and has secured over 70M€ of funding. The company has more than 20 customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Exotrail’s team is expanding quickly and consists, as of today, of more than 100 passionate people operating out of two locations in France: Toulouse and Massy (suburb of Paris), and Portland, OR in the USA. More information: https://www.exotrail.com/

About Blue Canyon Technologies 

Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) offers a diverse portfolio of innovative, reliable, and affordable spacecraft and components that enable a broad range of missions and technological advancements for the new space economy. The company currently supports numerous unique missions with over 100 cumulative spacecraft orders.  

For the latest news on Blue Canyon Technologies and for other company information, please visit www.bluecanyontech.com. You can follow the company on LinkedIn here or Instagram here.