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Raising Our Orbit
From deployments to now being backed by York, momentum is building
Orbion Space Technology
April 09, 2026
There are moments where you can actually feel the progress. This is one of them.
Orbion joined the York Space Systems family of companies when York acquired Orbion on March 6 — a major milestone and a clear signal of where we’re headed. After flying and evaluating propulsion systems across the industry, York selected Orbion as their exclusive provider for satellite propulsion. Together with sister companies Emergent Space Technologies and Atlas, the York family is a full-stack provider capable of fielding complete satellite solutions at scale for government and commercial customers.
Orbion continues to move forward as an independent merchant supplier to the entire industry — now with greater backing, expanded capacity, and increased momentum.
At the same time, that momentum is showing up in orbit. A dozen more Aurora thrusters are now on the Twilight mission, doing exactly what they were built to do.
We’ll be in Colorado Springs for Space Symposium — always a good chance to reconnect with the people we build alongside.
And in the background, we’re pushing ahead on what’s next. Kilowatt-class Nova is coming.
— Brad King, CEO
A New Chapter With York Space Systems
On March 6, 2026, Orbion Space Technology was acquired by York Space Systems, marking a meaningful step in our continued growth. Orbion will operate as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary, maintaining our position as an unrestricted merchant supplier serving the global space industry.
For our customers and partners, this structure is intentional. It preserves the way we work today — same teams, same processes, same commitment to delivering reliable, flight-proven propulsion systems — while adding the resources and stability needed to scale.
York brings deep experience as both a spacecraft operator and manufacturer, having flown and evaluated propulsion systems across the market. Their decision to bring Orbion in as their exclusive propulsion provider reflects a clear alignment in performance expectations, manufacturing discipline, and long-term vision. At the same time, York benefits from Orbion’s continued success as a merchant supplier, ensuring ongoing investment in our products, production capacity, and customer support across the broader industry.
This combination allows us to strengthen what already works — expanding our vertically integrated manufacturing, increasing throughput, and continuing to invest in next-generation systems — without disrupting current programs. It positions Orbion to support a growing mix of commercial and defense missions with greater scale, consistency, and confidence in delivery.
Aurora Thrusters Continue to Deliver On Orbit
Orbion propulsion systems continue to demonstrate reliable, repeatable performance in space. Most recently, Aurora systems were launched to orbit on SpaceX Transporter-16. Prior to that, a dozen additional Aurora thrusters were successfully deployed aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 as part of the Twilight mission, launching into a dusk-dawn sun-synchronous orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
These systems are now supporting multiple customer spacecraft, contributing to critical functions including orbit raising, station keeping, collision avoidance, and mission extension.
That on-orbit performance is matched by demonstrated production at scale. In 2025, Orbion sustained a cadence of 12 units per month, demonstrating the ability to produce and ship more than 150 Aurora thrusters per year. Production capacity is ultimately measured by what leaves the dock — and that throughput reflects the strength of our manufacturing systems and team. In 2026, we’re pushing that capability even further.
See You at Space Symposium
We’ll be in Colorado Springs for Space Symposium — always a good chance to reconnect with the customers, partners, and suppliers we work with every day. As Orbion continues to expand across U.S. and international markets, these moments matter. It’s where conversations turn into programs — and yes, we’ll have a new booth, fresh swag, and a little old whiskey on hand for those who know where to find us. (pssst… #409)
Looking Ahead: Nova
Development continues on Nova, Orbion’s kilowatt-class electric propulsion system, designed to address the increasing power and performance demands of next-generation spacecraft. Nova builds on the proven foundation of Aurora, extending capability into higher-thrust, higher-power mission classes while maintaining a focus on reliability, integration, and manufacturability. As mission profiles evolve — requiring greater maneuverability, faster orbit raising, and enhanced operational flexibility — we’re developing Nova to meet those needs head-on.
Orbion Space Technology is bringing electric propulsion systems into the New Space market. Designed specifically for small sats, 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.
