Rocket Lab unveils Gauss electric satellite thruster for constellation demand

Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ: RKLB) announced the introduction of its Gauss electric propulsion system designed for satellite constellations. The company established a production line capable of manufacturing more than 200 thrusters annually to address supply chain constraints in the electric propulsion market.

The Gauss system includes a Hall Thruster, Power Processing Unit and Propellant Management Assembly. Rocket Lab designed and manufactures the system in-house rather than acquiring existing technology from other suppliers.

"Proliferated constellations are now the norm for commercial and national security space users, but the propulsion systems needed to maneuver these spacecraft in orbit have simply not been reliably available at any kind of scale," said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab's founder and CEO.

The thruster produces higher specific impulse compared to traditional chemical propulsion systems, allowing spacecraft to carry less propellant while maintaining performance levels. The system uses xenon propellant with krypton as an alternative option.

Key technical features include heaterless cathode technology for instantaneous start, magnetic shielding to extend operational lifetime, and an ITAR/EAR-free design for low Earth orbit constellation applications. The system incorporates GaNFet-based electronics and a simplified software command interface.

Rocket Lab has previously manufactured 850 Rutherford engines for its Electron rocket and Curie engines that have supported the deployment of more than 200 spacecraft. The company operates launch facilities in New Zealand and Virginia.

The announcement was made in a press release statement from the Long Beach, California-based space company.

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