LYOBA
PAVE's heavy kick stage, designed to take payloads of up to 5 tons from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit, medium Earth orbit or a lunar trajectory in under 24 hours.
Why it matters
Satellites dropped in low orbit often spend six to twelve months spiraling up on electric thrusters before they can earn money. A fast chemical tug would cut that to a day and give defense users a way to reposition quickly.
How the technology works
LYOBA uses storable bipropellants rather than cryogenic fuels, so the propellant can sit in orbit for long periods. PAVE builds its propulsion, avionics and structures in house and has converted a former power plant in Valais into an engine test site.
A first in-space mission, GRAZE, was scheduled for October 2026 to test avionics.