Ursa Major to deliver chemical propulsion capability for tactical satellite bus systems

Davide SherMarch 14, 2025

1 minute read

Ursa Major’s propulsion system includes the integration of key components such as tanks, thrusters, and avionics. (Credit: Ursa Major)

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Ursa Major has secured a contract to deliver fully integrated GEO propulsion systems for a customer engaged in critical satellite missions. The multi-year agreement, valued between $10 and $15 million, supports the development, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of an advanced propulsion system capable of six-degree-of-freedom maneuverability.

Explore Ursa Major and satellite advancements in GEO propulsion systems for critical space missions valued at up to $15 million. — Ursa Major’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab in Youngstown, Ohio, where its EOS laser powder bed fusion 3D printer (left) produces rocket engine components on demand. Technician Ty Barzak setting up for a new build (right).

Headquartered in Berthoud, Colorado, with additive manufacturing facilities in Youngstown, Ohio, Ursa Major provides innovative solutions for hypersonic systems, tactical missiles, and space mobility. The company delivers advanced and cost-effective aerospace solutions by leveraging cutting-edge digital and additive manufacturing techniques.

Following successful flights for hypersonic and defense applications in 2024, Ursa Major is applying its expertise to scale the production of propulsion systems, ensuring greater accessibility to space. The growth of the satellite industry has increased demand for advanced propulsion systems that enable efficient maneuverability, collision avoidance, and timely deorbiting.

A resilient supply chain is a fundamental component of the responsive space domain, ensuring mission timelines are met. Ursa Major addresses this need through an off-the-shelf and scalable manufacturing approach that rapidly delivers mission-critical capabilities, now applied to satellite bus systems

According to Ursa Major CEO Dan Jablonsky, this contract highlights the engineering rigor behind propulsion systems. It facilitates the development of a new generation of highly maneuverable satellite buses with significantly shorter lead times than existing systems.

Development and production of these in-space propulsion systems will take place at Ursa Major’s design, testing, and production facility in Berthoud, Colorado. The company employs advanced digital manufacturing processes and vertically integrates key technologies to accelerate deployment.

Ursa Major’s propulsion system incorporates essential components, including high-efficiency propellant tanks, advanced thrusters for precise movements, and sophisticated avionics optimized for control and system management.