Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOES20250604007
- Term of Validity
- 4 June 2025 - 4 June 2026
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Investment agreement
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A deep-tech company from Spain which offers autonomous, propellant-free systems for satellite deorbiting, propulsion and in-orbit servicing vehicles including Active Debris Removal (from consulting to software and/or hardware) based on electrodynamic tether technology. The organisation seeks technical cooperation, commercial agreements, or joint ventures inside or outside Europe (e.g. Spain, Germany, France, Italy, UK, USA and Japan).
- Full Description
-
A deep-tech company located in Spain is offering an autonomous and propellant-free subsystem for space applications, specifically targeting satellite deorbiting and in-orbit servicing. The technology is based on electrodynamic tether systems, which exploit natural resources in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)—such as ambient plasma and Earth’s magnetic field—to generate a custom force for orbital manoeuvring without the use of propellant.
The space sector is facing an escalating challenge related to orbital congestion and long-term sustainability. The increasing volume of satellites and launch activities in LEO is raising the risk of collisions and contributing to a worsening debris environment. To address this, new regulatory frameworks and policies have emerged, such as the Federal Communications Commision’ five-year deorbiting rule (from US) and the ESA Zero Debris Approach, both requiring spacecraft to exit orbit within five years after end of mission. However, many current spacecraft, especially small satellites and payload adapters, lack the means to comply, particularly in the event of failure or loss of function.
At the same time, the growth of the in-orbit servicing market—which includes debris removal, life extension, and orbital repositioning—is generating demand for efficient, low-maintenance mobility systems that can function without relying on limited onboard fuel.
The offered technology is a self-contained unit employing an electrodynamic tether—a long conductive tape deployed from the host object. Through its motion in Earth’s magnetic field, a current is induced, which in turn generates a Lorentz force. This interaction allows for altitude decrease (deorbiting) or increase (reboosting), depending on the direction of the current.
The system is designed for:
• Autonomous deorbiting of satellites and upper stages, particularly above 500 km altitude where atmospheric drag is insufficient.
• Propellant-free orbital manoeuvring, suitable for integration into in-orbit servicing platforms.
Key system components include:
• A deployable tether integrated with a dedicated electron emission system;
• Independent avionics (or not) and power generation (e.g., solar panels);
• Dual communication modules for ground activation;
• Telecommand and safety features such as mission abort or collision avoidance.
This subsystem is capable of operating without support from the host spacecraft, enabling it to be used even when the host has become non-functional. Its compact and modular architecture also allows adaptation to different mass ranges and mission profiles.
The development team combines expertise in tether dynamics, space systems engineering, and mission simulation. The company holds exclusive rights to a high-fidelity mission analysis tool for electrodynamic tethers and leads the development of the first autonomous tether-based deorbit system scheduled for in-orbit demonstration in 2026. The design has passed engineering qualification and is under final integration.
The company’s long-term roadmap includes extending this technology to scalable mobility modules for orbital servicing vehicles, using the same physical principle of tethers, but in reverse mode, hence providing reboost capability. This roadmap is designed to first demonstrate the system’s reliability in the deorbiting segment before scaling to these more complex mobility applications.
The current goal is to expand the use of this propellant-free technology across multiple satellite platforms and to accelerate adoption within the emerging in-orbit servicing market. - Advantages and Innovations
-
The technology is an autonomous subsystem for deorbiting and orbital manoeuvring based on electrodynamic tether systems. It provides a novel, propellant-free solution for addressing current regulatory and operational challenges in Low Earth Orbit, particularly in the fields of space debris mitigation and in-orbit servicing.
Innovation:
Most existing deorbit technologies rely on chemical or electric propulsion systems, which are constrained by:
• The need for on-board fuel;
• Operational dependency on satellite systems that may fail at end-of-life;
• High mass and complexity, limiting integration in small or low-cost missions.
In contrast, this electrodynamic tether system provides passive thrust or drag using natural orbital resources. For deorbiting, this technology is specifically designed to function without the support of the host platform, allowing autonomous operation even when the host is unresponsive or power-depleted.
Main Advantages:
• Propellant-free operation: Eliminates the need for on-board fuel, reducing mass and complexity.
• Autonomous subsystem: Fully independent from host satellite avionics, power, or attitude control.
• Scalability: Tether length and configuration can be adapted to a wide range of object masses and altitudes.
• Dual capability: Enables both deorbiting (drag mode) and orbital reboost (thrust mode) depending on system configuration.
• Compliant with new deorbit regulations: Designed to satisfy 5-year disposal policies at altitudes where natural drag is ineffective.
• Safe activation and deactivation: Telecommand functionality allows ground-controlled operation and emergency abort.
This system fills a critical gap in the market by enabling the deorbit of objects without propulsion or those that have become inoperative—scenarios not currently addressed by prevailing technologies. It is supported by in-depth mission simulations using dedicated software tools and a development path grounded in space qualification standards. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
The company is actively seeking:
• Technical cooperation with satellite and launcher developers to tailor the system for specific configurations and facilitate integration.
• Commercial agreements with technical assistance to support the deployment and operation of the system in customer missions.
• Joint development or investment partnerships to co-fund orbital demonstrations or develop next-generation space mobility platforms.
Priority countries for cooperation include countries inside or outside the European Union, for example (but not limited) to Spain, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, United States and Japan. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The organisation is open to three types of international partnerships: investment agreements, commercial agreements with technical assistance, and research and development cooperation agreements. Each partnership type corresponds to specific phases of development and market deployment, and the expected roles of partners are defined accordingly.
1. Investment Agreement
Expected partner profile:
Private investors, business angels, venture capital funds, or strategic industrial stakeholders with experience in aerospace, deep-tech hardware, or new space technologies.
Expected role of the partner:
• Provide funding to support industrialisation of the first product (autonomous deorbiting device) following the in-orbit demonstration scheduled for 2026.
• Co-invest in further development of a scalable product portfolio, including mobility modules for orbital servicing applications.
• Support the go-to-market strategy, facilitate access to new geographical markets or user segments.
This cooperation is especially suited for partners aiming to enter the fast-growing markets of space debris mitigation and in-orbit servicing, with direct exposure to regulatory tailwinds and emerging demand.
2. Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance
Expected partner profile:
Satellite integrators, launch vehicle developers, platform manufacturers, or system integrators operating in the space sector.
Expected role of the partner:
• Integrate the autonomous subsystem into their spacecraft, upper stages, or orbital transport vehicles.
• Collaborate in the adaptation of interfaces (mechanical, electrical, command) for seamless incorporation into specific mission architectures.
• Provide feedback from test and qualification campaigns to improve the product’s performance and reliability.
• Contribute to post-launch support and performance tracking in operational scenarios.
The company will offer full technical assistance for product integration, configuration, and activation protocols, as well as training and simulation support. This type of agreement is suited for partners looking to meet deorbit compliance requirements efficiently in missions beyond 500 km altitude which therefore do not comply with the 5 years-rule or policies, and with a satellite mass which can vary from small sizes (70kg) up to the maximum allowed for non-build-for-demise satellites (1000kg if not built for demise, or higher if built for demise).
3. Research and Development Cooperation Agreement
Expected partner profile:
Organisations engaged in advanced space propulsion, in-orbit servicing solutions, or satellite subsystems. This includes research centres, public-private consortia, or industrial partners leading demonstration missions or feasibility studies.
Expected role of the partner:
• Joint development of next-generation electrodynamic tether systems aimed at orbital mobility, station keeping, or multi-mission service platforms.
• Participation in proposal consortia for national or European R&D calls, such as Horizon Europe, ESA ARTES or CASSINI initiatives.
• Shared access to ground test facilities or software validation environments for co-simulation and qualification campaigns.
• Exploration of novel architectures (e.g., tether arrays, modular reboost systems, hybrid propulsion) and expansion into emerging service areas (e.g., swarm dynamics, active debris removal kits).
This cooperation is ideal for partners aiming to co-develop future technology lines that push the boundaries of sustainable in-space propulsion and contribute to long-term zero debris objectives. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 11-49
- Other
- University
- SME 50 - 249
- R&D Institution
- SME <=10
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Investment agreement
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02011005 - Space Exploration and Technology
- 02010002 - Engineering
- Market keywords
- 02007025 - Consulting services
- 09003001 - Engineering services
- 01005002 - Satellite ground (and others) equipment
- 01005001 - Satellite services/carriers/operators
- 02002001 - CAD/CAM, CAE systems
- Sector Groups Involved
- Aerospace and Defence
- Targeted countries
- All countries
Files
E.T.PACK-F_DataSheet.pdf
BETsMA_DataSheet.pdf
Videos
PERSEI Space: A Sustainable Answer to the Space Debris Crisis