In June, IVO Ltd., a North Dakota-based leader in wireless power technologies, is set to revolutionize the space industry by sending its all-electric propulsion system for satellites to space. This system, called the IVO Quantum Drive, will be sent to low Earth orbit (LEO) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the rideshare mission Transporter 8.
IVO Ltd.'s All-Electric Propulsion System to Revolutionize Satellite Operation
According to the story by Interesting Engineering, IVO Ltd., a North Dakota-based firm, is on the verge of a space revolution - sending their all-electric propulsion system for satellites, the IVO Quantum Drive, to space for the first time in June.
The Quantum Drive, part of the rideshare mission Transporter 8, will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and if successful, will mean a seismic shift in satellite operation and design, Universe Today points out the changes made in the Hall-Effect thrusters.
A Revolutionary Propulsion System: CBAT-Powered Engines for Satellites
The mission results from years of development and hard work from the talented engineers at IVO. Founded in 2017, the company has developed a groundbreaking wireless energy transmission technology called Capacitive Based Aerial Transmission (CBAT).
This tech can reduce battery sizes by 50 percent and open up a world of possibilities for satellite makers. But IVO didn't stop there. The company set out to create an alternative propulsion system for these satellites.
IVO Quantum Drive: A Pure Electric Thruster System with Unprecedented Efficiency
The result was the IVO Quantum Drive, a pure electric thruster system the company claims can produce 52 millinewtons (mN) of thrust with just one watt of electricity, as detailed further in a press release.
This was determined after completing successful thermal vacuum chamber tests on Earth, and the tiny piece of technology has a fraction of the mass of existing ion engines.
Unlimited Maneuverability: The Advantages of Quantum Drive Technology
Best of all, it requires no fuel, drawing its power from the sun - making it unlimited in its maneuverability. When the Quantum Drive launches in June, it will be aboard a Rogue Space Systems satellite for its maiden spacewalk test.
Rogue and other companies are already planning for their next generation of satellites in light of IVO's new technology - with Brent Abbott, a chief business officer at Rogue, commenting on how its small size and big capabilities will create "incredibly efficient, lightweight, maneuverable, fuel independent and cost-effective spacecraft."
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The Revolutionary IVO Quantum Drive Makes Commercial Satellites a Reality
With its commercial viability, the IVO Quantum Drive has the potential to revolutionize the satellite industry - and from the looks of it, that revolution is just around the corner.
The IVO Quantum Drive has already been tested successfully in vacuum chambers on Earth, and now it is ready to be deployed into orbit. This mission onboard a Rogue Space Systems satellite will mark the start of a new era for the industry that prioritizes efficiency and sustainability.
This mission sets out to prove to the world that commercializing technology like this is feasible and should be done because the benefits are numerous.
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