What ION-X does

ION-X is a French private space-propulsion company founded in 2021 that develops and manufactures ionic liquid electrospray thrusters for small satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit. Its core technology, derived from 35+ years of focused-ion-beam research at CNRS and co-developed with the French space agency CNES since 2017, extracts charged particles from an ionic liquid propellant using a high-voltage electric field to form Taylor cones and expel ions through an extraction grid, delivering thrust without combustion, pressurization, or an external cathode. The flagship product, the HALO-100X, is a 1U plug-and-play thruster delivering greater than 1 mN of thrust and greater than 5000 seconds of specific impulse, with adaptive thrust/ISP configuration, fire-on-demand operation, modular clustering from x1 to x16 thrusters, and a non-toxic inert propellant. The company sells hardware propulsion systems directly to satellite constructors and operators through an enterprise B2B sales motion, targeting both individual satellite integrators and large mega-constellation projects. Revenue mechanics are based on hardware sales of thruster units and clustering configurations; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per mission. Following a €3.8M seed round in 2021 and a €13M Series A in 2024 (including the European Innovation Council Fund and the Île-de-France Region), ION-X is positioned to enter commercial service in mid-2025 with a planned large-scale factory inauguration in October 2025.

Name

ION-X

Legal name

ION-X

Website

https://ion-x.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ION-X is a French space-propulsion startup founded in 2021 that develops ionic liquid electrospray thrusters for small satellites, selling its HALO-100X 1U plug-and-play thruster directly to satellite constructors and constellation operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Propulsion Systems

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)

Keywords

• Electric propulsion systems
• Satellite thrusters
• Space propulsion
• Electrospray thrusters
• Small satellite propulsion

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne-billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Thruster Sales: Sale of HALO-100X 1U electric thruster systems to satellite constructors and operators. Product designed for constellation projects with scalable clustering options (x1 to x16 thrusters).
2. In-orbit Demonstration Services: Partnership for in-orbit demonstration missions, collaborating with customers for flight validation of thruster technology.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ION-X develops and markets ionic liquid electrospray propulsion systems for small satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Its flagship product, the HALO-100X, is a 1U plug-and-play electric thruster delivering more than 1 mN of thrust, greater than 5000s specific impulse, and over 5000 N·s total impulse. The technology uses a non-toxic, inert, non-pressurized ionic liquid propellant extracted via Taylor cones formed by high-voltage electric fields, eliminating the need for high-pressure tanks or external cathodes.

Product overview

ION-X offers a suite of space propulsion products centered on their patented ionic liquid electrospray thruster technology. The flagship product is the HALO-100X, a 1U plug-and-play electric thruster delivering >1 mN thrust and >5000s ISP. The ION-X Cluster enables clustering of multiple thrusters (x1 to x16) for higher thrust applications. Propulsive Slabs offer modular elementary cells with vectoring capabilities. All products share core technology: electrospray propulsion using ionic liquid, featuring no warm-up required, fire-on-demand capability, and stealth operation with no IR signature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HALO-100X: 1U plug-and-play electric thruster with >1 mN thrust, >5000s ISP, 1.2 kg weight, 40-50W power consumption.

Products and services

• HALO-100X A standard 1U plug-and-play electric propulsion system for small satellites, providing more than 1 mN thrust, greater than 5000s ISP, and greater than 5000 N·s total impulse at 1.2 kg weight and 40–50W power consumption. Uses inert, non-toxic, non-pressurized ionic liquid propellant with RS/CAN/USB-C connectivity. Designed for satellite constructors and operators building small satellites in Low Earth Orbit.
• ION-X Cluster A clustering solution combining multiple 1U HALO-100X thrusters from x1 to x16 configurations based on mission thrust requirements, with boost mode capability for increased power output. Targeted at constellation projects requiring scalable propulsion.
• Propulsive Slab Elementary cells based on HALO-100X technology that can be combined based on mission thrust requirements. Features geometric adaptability and matrix design offering vectoring boost capabilities, with the ability to split into modules spread across spacecraft geometry.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISP >5000s (vs ~1000s for Hall Effect Thrusters, ~3000s for FEEP)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreTechnology or IntegrationION-X leverages decades of research on focused ion sources initiated at CNRS in the 1980s. The company operates from C2N-CNRS (Centre for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies) in Saclay. This partnership provides access to state-of-the-art research facilities and the foundational technology for ION-X's electrospray thruster.
• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench space agency that jointly developed the first prototype of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) electrospray thruster with CNRS starting in 2017. Co-funded R&T with CNRS for the technology development.
• MITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CNRS in early 2010s on use of powerful ion source for delivery on demand of chemical active ions for nanoscience.
• University of Paris-Saclay (C2N)coreTechnology or IntegrationJoint research center with CNRS where ION-X's technology originated. The C2N-CNRS is described as the world specialist in ion sources for nanoelectronics.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Accion Systems: US-based developer of ionic electrospray propulsion systems for small satellites. Most direct technology comparable to ION-X, targeting the same CubeSat/LEO operator customer base with a non-toxic propellant thruster.
• ThrustMe: French small-satellite electric propulsion company offering iodine-based and other electric thrusters. Direct competitor in the same geography and customer segment, with overlapping CNES/NewSpace ecosystem ties.
• Busek: US manufacturer of small electric thrusters including electrospray, Hall-effect, and FEEP systems. Directly comparable product portfolio for the small-satellite propulsion market and an established flight-heritage competitor.
• Morpheus Space: German company developing miniaturized electric propulsion (nano-thrusters) for small satellites in LEO. Competes for the same CubeSat and constellation customers with a similar miniaturization thesis.
• Phase Four: US-based provider of RF thruster propulsion for small satellites. Competes in the same LEO smallsat market with an alternative electric propulsion architecture targeting constellation-scale deployment.
• Sitael: Italian small-satellite and electric propulsion manufacturer offering Hall-effect thrusters and complete satellite platforms. A direct competitor in European space propulsion with established flight heritage.
• Benchmark Space Systems: US in-space mobility and propulsion provider offering small-satellite propulsion products including non-toxic systems. Direct comparable in the small-satellite propulsion market with overlap on constellation customers.

Emerging players

• Dawn Aerospace: New Zealand/Dutch company developing green (non-toxic) propulsion for small satellites and suborbital spaceplanes. Adjacent competitor addressing the same small-satellite operator need for non-toxic, safe propulsion.

Broad incumbents

• Safran: French aerospace group with a substantial space propulsion portfolio (electric and chemical). As a broad incumbent, it can bundle propulsion with larger spacecraft platforms and has flight heritage ION-X must compete against.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne: Large US aerospace propulsion incumbent offering electric and chemical thrusters across spacecraft classes. Broad incumbent with deep flight heritage that competes for institutional and commercial satellite propulsion contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ion-x-propulsion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ION-X