OSMOS X, a concrete space propulsion company based in Bruz, near Rennes, has just taken a new step towards the first orbital test of its technology. The launch of a demonstrator is scheduled for 2027.
The company announced that on September 15, it validated the preliminary definition review of its propulsion demonstrator with the company SpaceLocker. This technical step now allows for the detailed design of the system that is to be sent into space in 2027.
Founded in 2022, OSMOS X is developing a plasma electric propulsion technology called HPCR (High Power Cyclotron Resonance), stemming from research conducted over approximately thirty years at CNRS-ICARE. However, the flight propulsor had to be largely rethought to operate under the specific conditions of space.
This test is intended to allow OSMOS X to acquire its first "flight heritage," meaning to demonstrate that its technology has indeed functioned under space conditions, an important step to access the market.
The propulsion being developed is intended to equip Thorus, a multi-mission orbital transfer vehicle. The company envisions several uses: transporting satellites to their final orbit, extending their lifespan, inspecting satellites or space objects, and participating in the removal of debris in orbit.
OSMOS X is also coordinating two European projects, including TAC, selected by the European Defence Fund, and ALBATOR, funded under Horizon Europe.
The company currently employs more than 25 people spread between Bruz and Toulouse and announces its intention to double its workforce within two years. The next step will be a detailed design review, followed by the integration and testing of the demonstrator, with its launch scheduled for 2027.
