June 23, 2023 – Safran Electronics & Defense and Terran Orbital announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to study and validate the prerequisites for production of a new generation of electric propulsion systems for satellites in the United States, based on Safran’s PPSX00 plasma thruster. Safran Electronics & Defense, via Safran Spacecraft Propulsion, and Terran Orbital will undertake an in-depth analysis to determine the technical, industrial and economic prerequisites for a new U.S.-based production line for electric propulsion systems. The location under consideration is a Terran Orbital facility in Irvine, California, which produces microsatellites. In addition to providing the American space industry with a local source of satellite thrusters, contributing to the economy and employment, this new line will match Safran’s production facilities in France, eventually doubling the company’s international production capacity. Developing effective and sustainable propulsion systems for satellites is a critical challenge worldwide, as increasingly stringent international regulations stipulate greater sustainability and resilience in spacecraft. A higher degree of spacecraft maneuverability is needed to avoid collisions, along with a system to deorbit low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at the end of their service life. Safran’s PPSX00 plasma thrusters, rated at about one kilowatt of power, will be used to meet the burgeoning mobility requirements of LEO satellites.