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An Astra Spacecraft Engine thruster firing with a blue plasma plume inside a vacuum test chamber
Image: Astra

Astra Spacecraft Engine

Electric thrusters that satellites use to maneuver and hold their orbit, sold to other satellite makers.

Why it matters

Every satellite needs to move once in orbit. Electric propulsion uses far less propellant than chemical thrusters, which lets satellites last longer or carry more.

How the technology works

The engine is an electric thruster with a magnetically shielded design and a center-mounted cathode. It runs on xenon or krypton and uses power from the satellite's solar panels to produce small, steady thrust.

Sources

  1. Astra Space Form 10-K via SEC EDGARMar 31, 2022

Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction