Australian Firm Neumann Space Pioneers Molybdenum-Fueled Space Propulsion With a Metal “Fuel Rod” Thruster
When most people hear “space propulsion,” they picture fire and chemical exhaust. But one of Australia’s most closely watched propulsion efforts is built around something far less cinematic—and potentially far more practical for modern satellites: a solid metal rod of molybdenum that can be turned into plasma on demand to nudge spacecraft through orbit. That technology, developed by Adelaide-based Neumann Space, has moved beyond lab demonstrations and into repeated on-orbit testing—an important step in a market that increasingly expects satellites to dodge debris, maintain formation, and safely deorbit at end of life. Over the past two years, the company’s Neumann Drive has progressed from first
