Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine joined the board of directors of spacecraft propulsion startup Phase Four, the company told CNBC.
El Segundo, California-based Phase Four builds next-generation electric thrusters for small satellites, with six operating in orbit so far.
Jim Bridenstine, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, speaks during a Senate hearing on Sept. 30, 2020.The move sees the former NASA chief throw his experience and reputation behind a startup with a unique propellant technology. Bridenstine has joined up with larger, established organizations since leaving the space agency.
Bridenstine told CNBC that Phase Four's approach of using radio frequency to utilize a wide variety of propellant types – including xenon, krypton, iodine and water – is "going to be an absolute game changer for these proliferated [low Earth orbit satellite] constellations."Phase Four's propellant flexibility gives the company stability in the face of a geopolitical threat, Bridenstine said.
Phase Four has contracts to develop and produce thrusters from the Air Force and DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, as well as commercial orders from companies likeThe company has 32 employees and is expanding into a 23,000-square-foot facility in Hawthorne, California. It plans to raise another funding round in 2023 and to grow to about 50 people over the next 12 months.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Risk for Orion is even higher than for SLS, says NASA administratorThe Artemis I launch is planned for 3 September. NASA administrator Thomas Zurbuchen says it will be a test of the heat shield, communications and propulsion of the Orion spacecraft
Read more »
China Slams NASA Leadership After Its Moon Launch FailureChina wasted no time criticizing NASA — and its administrator, Bill Nelson — after the US space agency's uber-expensive moon rocket failed to launch.
Read more »
Axiom Space, NASA agree to send 2nd all-private crew to space station in 2023The Ax-2 private spaceflight continues to take shape.
Read more »
NASA Delays Artemis Launch After Rocket Gets ScaredMERRITT ISLAND, FL—In a disappointing setback to the hotly anticipated unmanned lunar mission, NASA announced Tuesday that it had delayed the Artemis I launch after the rocket got scared. “Unfortunately, just moments before launch, the rocket got a little spooked and needed to come down,” said NASA administrator…
Read more »
NASA releases stunning new image of the Phantom GalaxyStunning new images produced by the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Telescope showcase the Phantom Galaxy, a spiral of solar systems 32 million light-years away from Earth.
Read more »