Magdrive
Magdrive is a UK-based space propulsion startup developing pulsed plasma thrusters that use solid metal propellant to deliver order-of-magnitude higher thrust than comparable electric propulsion, serving satellite operators, constellation managers, ISAM providers, and defense customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersHarwell, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Magdrive does
Magdrive is a UK-based private space propulsion company founded in 2020 by Mark Stokes and Dr. Thomas Clayson at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The company develops pulsed plasma thrusters that use solid metal — rather than xenon or krypton — as propellant, vaporizing it into high-energy plasma via an internal energy storage system and accelerating it through a magnetic chamber to generate thrust. This architecture delivers an order-of-magnitude higher thrust than comparable electric propulsion systems at low mass, eliminates the need for cryogenics, pressurization, or heavy tanks, and enables compact form factors suitable for microsats and cubesats. Magdrive's product family comprises three tiers: Rogue (10 mN thrust, commercial rollout 2026), Warlock (50 mN, launching 2027), and Paladin (1 N+ thrust, launching 2028), plus the longer-horizon SuperMagdrive refuellable system.
The company sells custom-configured electric plasma thruster hardware directly to enterprise satellite operators, constellation managers, in-orbit servicing and manufacturing (ISAM) providers, and defense and security space customers. Revenue mechanics are quote-based multi-year contracts for integrated propulsion systems including propellant, onboard processor, and plasma injector; no public pricing is disclosed. Magdrive operates a direct enterprise sales motion from its UK headquarters (Harwell) and a US operations office in Los Angeles, supplemented by co-funded government testing infrastructure (DEEP Lab, £3.8M facility) and a dense partnership network spanning ESA, UK Space Agency, Airbus, D-Orbit, Orbit Fab, Space Solar, and Perpetual Atomics. The Going Rogue in-orbit demonstration mission was successfully completed in February 2026, validating the core architecture and enabling first commercial missions planned for 2026-2027.
Magdrive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Magdrive
- Legal name
- Magdrive Ltd.
- Website
- https://magdrivespace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Magdrive is a UK-based space propulsion startup developing pulsed plasma thrusters that use solid metal propellant to deliver order-of-magnitude higher thrust than comparable electric propulsion, serving satellite operators, constellation managers, ISAM providers, and defense customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Magdrive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Spacecraft Propulsion Hardware
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD)
Keywords
Where Magdrive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harwell
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Magdrive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Electric Plasma Thruster Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary electric plasma thruster systems (Rogue, Warlock, Paladin) to satellite operators, constellation managers, and spacecraft manufacturers. Products are sold as integrated propulsion systems including propellant, onboard processor, and plasma injector.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom spacecraft propulsion systems |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Magdrive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Magdrive develops and sells electric plasma thrusters that vaporize solid metal propellant into high-energy plasma with pulsed power. Its systems provide compact, storable, high-thrust propulsion for LEO satellites, spacecraft servicing, constellation management, and defense missions; Rogue is the commercial product, with Warlock and Paladin scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Product overview
Magdrive offers a family of three electric plasma thruster products — Rogue, Warlock, and Paladin — forming an integrated portfolio of next-generation spacecraft propulsion systems. Rogue is the original compact thruster for LEO satellites and deep space missions (available 2026); Warlock is a higher-power variant delivering an order of magnitude more thrust for constellation management and advanced missions (launching 2027); and Paladin represents the next level, delivering multi-N thrust for demanding deep-space and infrastructure applications (launching 2028). All three use a solid metal propellant converted into plasma via a pulsed power system, offering storable, high-thrust electric propulsion that is compact and sustainable compared to conventional chemical or Hall-effect thrusters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Magdrive Rogue Compact, high-thrust electric plasma propulsion system for satellites and spacecraft, using solid metal propellant converted into high-energy plasma through pulsed power. It delivers up to 10 mN of thrust, scalable to 50 mN, with more than 50 kNs of total impulse in a form factor suited to microsatellites.
Quantifiable outcome
- Thrust improved by order of magnitude compared to similar-sized electric propulsion systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Magdrive
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Magdrive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Magdrive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Perpetual AtomicscoreMoU to integrate space-grade radioisotope power systems with Magdrive's plasma propulsion for nuclear-electric propulsion. Aims to enable long-duration deep space missions, defense applications, and Earth-Moon infrastructure. Combines Magdrive's compact high-thrust propulsion with Perpetual Atomics' americium-241 nuclear power units.
- D-OrbitcorePartnership for Going Rogue in-orbit demonstration mission. D-Orbit's ION spacecraft hosted two Rogue thrusters on Transporter-14 mission. D-Orbit provides orbital deployment platform and will host commercial missions in 2026-2027.
- University of SouthamptonminorAcademic partner in SuperMagdrive programme development for advanced propulsion research and development.
- Space SolarcoreMoU at Farnborough International Airshow for collaboration on in-orbit energy infrastructure. Magdrive's SuperMagdrive thruster will provide propulsion for massive solar power stations requiring continuous orbital maintenance. Partnership addresses xenon/krypton supply limitations for large space infrastructure.
- Airbus Defence and Space UKcoreMagdrive graduated from inaugural Airbus Space Accelerator (14-week programme organized by Airbus and Plexal). Programme focused on route to market development, manufacturing rollout planning, and building relationships with Airbus decision makers. Part of Airbus' Community for Space Prosperity initiative.
- Orbit FabcoreMoU for spacecraft refuelling collaboration focused on developing SuperMagdrive thruster - world's first large solid metal propulsion system that can be refuelled using metal found in space. Partnership enables in-orbit refuelling capabilities and supports sustainable deep-space missions. Supported by £1 million UK Space Agency NSIP grant.
- Imperial College LondonminorAcademic home of co-founders (CTO Dr. Thomas Clayson, CEO Mark Stokes). Alumni engagement through outreach events, LEOHack hackathon, and Fusion and Plasma Physics Careers Day. Source of technical talent and research collaboration.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Magdrive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Enpulsion: Enpulsion produces field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thrusters for small satellites and is a direct peer to Magdrive's Rogue-class offerings, serving the same commercial constellation and platform integrators.
- Accion Systems: Accion Systems develops electrospray propulsion systems for small satellites, directly competing with Magdrive in the LEO smallsat electric propulsion category. Both companies target constellation operators needing compact, low-mass propulsion.
- Phase Four (now Apex Space): Phase Four developed RF thruster technology for small satellite propulsion and was acquired by Apex Space. Direct competitor to Magdrive in the next-generation electric propulsion market for LEO constellations.
- Morpheus Space: Morpheus Space develops nano-propulsion systems (NanoFEEP) for small satellites and constellation operators, overlapping directly with Magdrive's compact LEO propulsion target market.
- Busek: Busek is a long-established US developer of Hall-effect, ion, and pulsed plasma thrusters for small satellites. Directly comparable to Magdrive's high-thrust electric propulsion portfolio and serves overlapping US defense and commercial customers.
- ThrustMe: ThrustMe is a French startup producing iodine-based electric propulsion (IEFIE and NPT30) for small satellites. Directly comparable to Magdrive in customer base, mission profile, and compact thruster form factor.
- Bradford Space (now Benchmark Space Systems): Benchmark offers green-monopropellant and electric propulsion systems for in-space mobility, directly comparable to Magdrive's products in serving satellite operators and ISAM use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Airbus Defence and Space: Airbus is a major space prime with overlapping propulsion interests and ran the accelerator that Magdrive graduated from. Operates broadly in satellite manufacturing, defense space, and space services with deep resources for in-house or competing electric propulsion development.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Aerojet Rocketdyne, now part of L3Harris, is a major incumbent aerospace propulsion manufacturer offering Hall-effect and chemical thrusters across defense and commercial space. Competes broadly with Magdrive in satellite propulsion but at much larger scale and with established flight heritage.
- Safran (SafranTech / Safran Aircraft Engines): Safran is a major European aerospace group with growing space propulsion activities, including electric thruster development through SafranTech. Operates broadly across the space industry with significantly larger resources than Magdrive and overlapping customer relationships in European defense and commercial space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Magdrive social profiles
Digital presenceMagdrive compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Magdrive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Magdrive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Magdrive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Magdrive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Magdrive
What does Magdrive do?
Magdrive develops and sells electric plasma thrusters that vaporize solid metal propellant into high-energy plasma with pulsed power. Its systems provide compact, storable, high-thrust propulsion for LEO satellites, spacecraft servicing, constellation management, and defense missions; Rogue is the commercial product, with Warlock and Paladin scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Is Magdrive a public or private company?
Magdrive is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Magdrive founded?
Magdrive was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Magdrive based?
Magdrive is headquartered in Harwell, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Magdrive make money?
One revenue line is on record: electric Plasma Thruster Hardware Sales.
Who are Magdrive's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Enpulsion, Accion Systems, Phase Four (now Apex Space), Morpheus Space, Busek, ThrustMe and Bradford Space (now Benchmark Space Systems). Broad incumbents are Airbus Defence and Space, Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris) and Safran (SafranTech / Safran Aircraft Engines).
Does Magdrive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Magdrive.
What industry is Magdrive in?
Magdrive's product category is Spacecraft Propulsion Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters, with a secondary code of IMABAMAD, Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion. Its NAICS code is 336415 and its SIC code is 3760.