Boeing Co., one of the government contractors taking advantage of a renewed U.S. emphasis on space development and exploration, is investing in a startup satellite-builder developing a more efficient propulsion system.
The aerospace giant’s involvement will help Boston-based Accion expand its manufacturing capabilities and offer access to the Chicago-based company’s experts and facilities, the companies said in a statement. Accion’s Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray, or TILE, propulsion combines non-toxic propellant and thrusters the size of a postage stamp to provide smaller, lighter and more cost-effective maneuvering for vehicles in orbit.
The technology “can help bring game-changing capabilities to satellites, space vehicles and customers,” said Brian Schettler, managing director of Boeing’s HorizonX Ventures unit, which funds startups with the potential to transform the aerospace industry.
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