Applied Ion Systems

Applied Ion Systems (founded in 2019) is a self-funded initiative dedicated to lowering the barriers to space propulsion through open development of affordable ion and plasma thrusters. Based in the USA, AIS designs and tests a variety of miniature electric propulsion systems (such as pulsed plasma thrusters and electrospray ion thrusters) tailored for CubeSats and PocketQubes. With an emphasis on simplicity, modularity, and use of low-cost materials, the company openly shares its designs, data, and resources with the community to support educational and amateur space projects. In its first year, AIS delivered several micro pulsed plasma thrusters for on-orbit demonstration (including units flown on the GENESIS PocketQube mission) and continues to innovate in propellant storage, ignition methods, and novel thruster technologies to make in-space propulsion accessible to even the smallest satellite teams.