Arkadia Space, a Spanish propulsion startup, has announced a significant contract win. They will supply 250-newton thrusters to MaiaSpace, a French startup developing a reusable small launch vehicle backed by ArianeGroup. These thrusters are designed for the Reaction Control System of the MaiaSpace launcher.
“This contract highlights the trust that a company like MaiaSpace places in Arkadia to supply key components for its launcher,” said Arkadia Space CEO Francho Garcia. “Now, it’s time to prove our capabilities.”
MaiaSpace is leveraging a launch pad in French Guiana, originally built for the Soyuz rocket, thanks to access provided by the French space agency CNES. The company plans to invest “several tens of millions of euros” to adapt this pad for its vehicle, with launches expected to begin in 2026.
MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy expressed confidence in Arkadia Space's ability to “deliver on time and cost key components to equip the first European reusable and eco-responsible mini-launcher.”
Arkadia Space, established in 2020, specializes in hydrogen peroxide-based propellant systems for satellites and platforms exceeding 50 kilograms. Their technology offers “exceptional performance while significantly reducing cost and environmental impact compared to traditional hydrazine-based Reaction Control Systems.”
The company's 250-newton thrusters were developed with funding from the European Space Agency Future Launchers Preparatory Program. A first on-orbit test is slated for March on a D-Orbit ION Satellite via a SpaceX Transporter 13 rideshare. The company recently secured $3 million in seed funding.