What Protolaunch does

Protolaunch is a UK-based chemical propulsion company founded in 2019 and headquartered at the Westcott Space Cluster. The company designs and manufactures in-space propulsion hardware, including the FOx-1 22N water electrolysis thruster, the Arctic FOx 500N thruster, and proprietary Throttling Control Valves with a 10:1 turn-down ratio and cryogenic compatibility. It also operates the E-Site propulsion test facility at Westcott, which provides a 10kN load cell test bench, a 2-3 tonne test bed, and altitude simulation capability used both internally for product qualification and offered as a third-party testing service. Reported activity includes 17 hybrid rocket tests conducted at the facility.

The company's revenue model combines hardware sales of propulsion systems with propulsion testing services for external customers. Customers and partners include Airbus Defence and Space UK (ExoMars program), the European Space Agency (multivariable closed-loop controller under GSTP), the UK Space Agency (multiple grant awards), Race2Space (hosted hybrid rocket tests), and Airborne Engineering. The company has received at least two UK Space Agency grant tranches — an earlier award in 2021 and approximately £1 million through the National Space Innovation Programme in December 2025 — and is developing water-based hybrid propulsion technology targeting the In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) market. Leadership comprises CEO Matt Escott, CTO and Co-founder Jack Brewster, and Commercial Development Manager Charlie Goodwin; the company operates with 1-10 employees.

Name

Protolaunch

Legal name

Protolaunch

Website

https://protolaunch.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Protolaunch is a UK-based chemical propulsion company developing in-space thrusters, propulsion control valves, and propulsion test services for institutional space customers including ESA, Airbus Defence and Space UK, and the UK Space Agency.

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), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Rocket Engines (Liquid) (IMABADAE), Propulsion Test, Integration & Certification Services (IMABADAN), Engine Control, Fuel & Ignition Systems (FADEC/Accessories) (IMABADAK), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Space propulsion systems
• Chemical thrusters
• Propulsion testing services
• Rocket engine testing
• Satellite propulsion

Headquarters

HQ city

Westcott

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Propulsion Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary propulsion hardware including throttling control valves, thrusters (FOx-1, Arctic FOx), and flight-ready components. Hardware is designed and manufactured in-house with rapid lead times unmatched in the European market.
2. Propulsion Testing Services: Comprehensive testing and qualification campaigns for in-space propulsion systems and flight hardware components. Services include hot-fire testing, cryogenic testing, cold flow characterisation, system qualification, and hardware in the loop validation.
3. Engineering Development Contracts: Contracted development work for propulsion systems and components, including ESA contracts for controller development and customer-specific engineering projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Protolaunch designs, manufactures, and tests chemical propulsion systems for in-space satellite mobility, including the FOx-1 (22N) and ARCTIC FOx (500N) thrusters, cavitating venturi throttling control valves, and a water-electrolysis-based hybrid propulsion system under development. The company also operates the E-Site Propulsion and Rocket Engine Test Facility at Westcott, UK, providing hot-fire, cryogenic, cold-flow, and qualification testing services for space propulsion hardware. Customers include space industry primes (Airbus Defence and Space) and government agencies (UK Space Agency, ESA).

Product overview

Protolaunch is a UK-based chemical propulsion company founded in 2019, specialising in the design, development, and testing of space propulsion systems. The product portfolio centres on three core hardware offerings: Throttling Control Valves (cavitating venturi) with 10:1 turn-down ratio, the FOx-1 Thruster (22N) using water electrolysis, and the ARCTIC FOx Thruster (500N) supporting multiple propellant types. The company also operates a state-of-the-art Propulsion Test Facility at Westcott offering end-to-end testing and qualification services. Under development is a water-based hybrid propulsion system combining chemical and electric thrusters, and a deep throttling engine controller for ESA. All offerings are supported by the company's in-house testing infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOx-1 Thruster: 22N water electrolysis thruster using clean hydrogen and oxygen as propellants for sustainable in-space mobility.
• Arctic FOx
• E-Site

Products and services

• Throttling Control Valves (Cavitating Venturi) Precision throttling control valves based on cavitating venturi technology, delivering a 10:1 turn-down ratio with sub-50ms step response. Designed for micro-launcher, reusable launcher, and lander propulsion applications and sold to space primes and agencies.
• FOx-1 Thruster (22N) 22N-class sustainable in-space thruster using water electrolysis to generate clean hydrogen and oxygen propellants. Targets the ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) market and enables pre-fuelled satellite shipping, reducing costs by approximately 25% versus hydrazine propulsion.
• ARCTIC FOx Thruster (500N) 500N-class versatile propulsion system designed to operate with gaseous, cryogenic, and liquid bi-propellant propellants. Engineered for demanding in-space manoeuvring needs across diverse space missions and used as a verification platform for ESA controller development.
• Propulsion Testing Facility Services Comprehensive in-house propulsion testing and qualification services performed at Protolaunch's E-Site Propulsion and Rocket Engine Test Facility at Westcott, UK. Services include hot-fire propulsion testing, cryogenic propulsion tests, cold flow characterisation, system qualification, hardware-in-the-loop validation, pump characterisation, leak tests, and pressure/burst tests for space propulsion systems and flight hardware components.
• Water-Based Hybrid Propulsion System Hybrid (chemical-electric) propulsion system under development that uses water as a common non-toxic propellant, combining a high-thrust chemical thruster (20N Oxygen-Hydrogen) and a high-efficiency electric thruster for sustainable in-space mobility. Targets mission versatility for fast orbital changes and fuel-efficient long-duration manoeuvres.
• Deep Throttling Engine Controller Multivariable closed-loop engine controller for bi-propellant Liquid Rocket Engines that enables precise and deep throttling by dynamically monitoring chamber pressure, mixture ratio, and engine health. Developed for Reusable Launchers and advanced Landers under an ESA GSTP contract.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% satellite cost savings by moving to water electrolysis propulsion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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, minor and supporting.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Protolaunch selected by ESA for design, development and verification of multivariable control system for bi-propellant Liquid Rocket Engines under ESA's General Support Technology Programme (GSTP). 24-month project to enable precise and deep throttling for Reusable Launchers and advanced Landers. Controller cross-engine verification will use Protolaunch's Arctic-FOx and Airborne Engineering's Lambda Engine.
• Airbus Defence and Space UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Protolaunch selected by Airbus Defence and Space UK to develop Throttling Control Valves for breadboard testing of ESA's ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Lander propulsion system. Protolaunch responsible for design, development, delivery, and full qualification test campaign for critical throttling control valves. This partnership showcases Airbus's commitment to fostering UK Space Industry growth and applying specialised UK expertise to world-leading missions.
• Race2SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Protolaunch hosted Race2Space hybrid rocket engine testing campaign at E-Site facility, welcoming operators and students from multiple teams. Testing 10 hybrid rocket engines (400N to 4.5kN thrust) during two-week intensive campaign to support next generation of space engineers.
• Airborne Engineering LtdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirborne Engineering Ltd serves as verification partner for ESA controller development project, providing their 1500N Lambda Engine platform for cross-engine compatibility testing alongside Protolaunch's 500N Arctic-FOx. Both testing campaigns executed at Westcott Space Cluster.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nammo: Nammo is a large Norwegian/European aerospace and defence company with a space propulsion business producing chemical bipropellant thrusters and propulsion systems. Comparable as a Europe-based propulsion supplier with broader portfolio and deeper flight heritage than Protolaunch, competing for similar ESA and prime contracts.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Aerojet Rocketdyne, now part of L3Harris, is a major US propulsion prime producing rocket and in-space chemical engines for government and commercial programmes. Comparable as a deep-heritage propulsion supplier that competes for the same prime and agency contracts Protolaunch is targeting, especially around upper-stage and exploration engines.
• Moog Inc. Moog's space division produces precision thruster valves, propulsion components, and fluid control systems used across launch and in-space programmes. Comparable to Protolaunch's throttling control valves and propulsion components business as an established supplier of high-precision propulsion hardware to primes and agencies.
• Rocket Lab (Spaceflight Inc. / Propulsion): Rocket Lab operates the Electron and Neutron launch vehicles and has an in-house propulsion division producing the Rutherford and Archimedes engines, and has also offered in-space propulsion products. Comparable as a space propulsion specialist with broader launch and spacecraft services that competes for the same small-sat and prime customer relationships.
• Safran (Safran Aircraft Engines / Space): Safran, through its aerospace and space businesses, develops propulsion systems and components for European launchers and spacecraft. Comparable as a major European propulsion incumbent with established ESA relationships that overlaps with Protolaunch's target customer base in European space agencies and primes.

Direct peers

• Dawn Aerospace: Dawn Aerospace develops in-space chemical propulsion systems and small-satellite thrusters, including bipropellant and green-propellant products. Directly comparable to Protolaunch's chemical and water-electrolysis thruster business and the same target customer base of small satellite and in-space mobility operators.
• ThrustMe: ThrustMe is a French in-space propulsion start-up offering electric and chemical (including iodine-based) propulsion for small satellites. Comparable to Protolaunch as a European, venture-backed propulsion specialist selling hardware and propulsion services to satellite operators and primes.
• Benchmark Space Systems: Benchmark Space Systems builds in-space mobility products including chemical thrusters and propulsion subsystems for small satellites. Comparable to Protolaunch's thruster product line and customer focus on satellite manufacturers and operators needing affordable in-space manoeuvring.

Emerging players

• Phase Four: Phase Four is a US in-space propulsion company developing RF thruster technology for small satellites. Comparable to Protolaunch as a venture-backed propulsion start-up selling into the same small-sat in-space mobility and constellation customer segment, with a different (electric) propellant approach.
• Morpheus Space: Morpheus Space is a German in-space mobility start-up developing small electric and hybrid thrusters for nanosatellites. Comparable to Protolaunch as a Europe-based propulsion start-up targeting the small-sat and in-space mobility market, though with a stronger focus on electric rather than chemical propulsion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protolaunch
• Xx.com/ProtolaunchLtd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Protolaunch