Orbion's 2025 Summer Kick-off

Making blue light with xenon. Making purple light with krypton.

Author

Orbion Space Technology
June 17, 2025

Summer has landed, and Orbion is moving at full thrust. From Scott Hall’s award-winning work on NASA’s HERMeS thruster to opening our doors to state lawmakers and economic leaders, we’ve had a season full of propulsion and progress. Our story’s been told on the N2K podcast, featured by the MEDC, and spotlighted by the University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship—a reminder that world-class innovation and future talent starts and is fostered by academia. We’re scaling production, growing our team, and preparing to represent at the Small Satellite Conference and AEROOne. We build thrusters, yes—but more than that, we build momentum. Proud of our roots. Focused on orbit.

— Brad King, CEO

AAS Space Technology Award

Congrats to our Chief Engineer, Scott Hall, Ph.D. who was a part of the team behind the development of the 12.5 kW HERMeS Hall thruster which has been selected to receive the 2024 American Astronomical Society (AAS) Space Technology Award. The award recognizes the HERMeS (Hall Effect Rocket with Magnet Shielding) team, “for the development of high specific impulse, long-life Hall thruster technology that is enabling propulsion for future exploration missions." Congratulations to Scott and the entire team.

t-minus Podcast

"... it's not that hard to build one Hall-effect thruster in the lab, what's really, really hard is to build one that can fly in orbit, and then build hundreds of them that are exactly the same."

An interview with CEO King on N2K | T-Minus. Thanks to Maria Varmazis and her team for covering everything from Orbion's origin story to the future of electric propulsion.

Listen here - (interview starts at 0:09:00)

Legislative Visit

Exceptional talent, an entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering work ethic are key to Orbion's manufacturing and innovation. We're grateful to state Representatives Markkanen and Prestin, and Senator McBroom for visiting our test facility and acknowledging our role in the future of aerospace.

Space Symposium

A big thanks to the Space Foundation for hosting this year's Symposium in Colorado Springs, and to everyone who stopped by our booth to talk electric propulsion or discuss the difference between aging whiskey in a toasted French oak barrel at 62°F versus charred American oak at 68°F. We’re looking at you, Space Force.

University of Michigan

"... a story about a culture of innovation, the resources that support it, and the people who choose to build the future right here in the Great Lakes State."

We spent a full day on the University of Michigan’s campus, presenting at the Center for Entrepreneurship’s EHour to a few hundred guests, touring the student-run Bioastronautics and Life Support System (BLiSS) team, and hosting some Q&A classroom sessions.

See how the day went with this short feature video:

Michigan Tech’s Enterprise Program turned 25 this year, and Brad King was one of eight recipients of the inaugural Enterprise Distinguished Service Award. This honor celebrates over 15 years of Brad’s leadership and mentorship in shaping a program that connects students with real-world, industry-driven experience — something we care deeply about at Orbion.

Upjohn Institute

We hosted a visit from Dr. Iryna V. Lendel, Senior Director of Regional Economic and Community Development at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, whose work is rooted in a clear and vital mission: to develop meaningful, research-driven solutions that improve economic opportunities.

Orbion's own origin story has been shaped by support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the MTEC SmartZone, whose state-backed programs have helped catalyze our growth.

Business Leaders For Michigan featured Orbion as a case study for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference. The case study is an excellent summary of Orbion – from origin story to economic impact.

Orbion’s VP of Business Development, Greg Orndorff, has been with us almost since the beginning and has been responsible for cultivating and securing a long list of propulsion-seeking customers. He’s recently announced his retirement and we wish him well! His role will be taken by Rob Washeleski.

What’s on the Orbion travel calendar?

Over the summer, we’ll be exhibiting (Booth 1233) at the Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City and presenting at Michigan’s AEROOne show.

Orbion Space Technology is bringing electric propulsion systems into the New Space market. Designed specifically for SmallSats, Orbion's innovative Hall-effect propulsion systems are unlocking capabilities previously unobtainable and setting a new level of expectation for the industry. Our AS9100-certified vertical manufacturing company builds and ships hundreds of the industry’s highest-performing electric propulsion systems each year. Orbion is Propulsion Perfected.