BSV Podcast 0143: Aurora Propulsion

Balerion Principal Aidan Daoussis sits down with Perttu Yli-Opas, Co-founder & CTO of Aurora Propulsion, to discuss small-sat propulsion. Aurora Propulsion is developing compact in-space mobility systems, including water-based resistojets and plasma brake deorbiting technology. The company is focused on propulsion architectures for CubeSats and small satellites as operators face growing needs for orbit transfer, collision avoidance, proximity operations, and end-of-life disposal.Timestamped Overview00:00 – Introduction to Aurora Propulsion and the need for small satellite mobility02:17 – Founding story, Finland’s miniature manufacturing expertise, and the CubeSat propulsion gap06:16 – Water-based resistojet propulsion and plasma brake deorbiting technology08:11 – Combining propulsion and debris mitigation into integrated mobility solutions10:15 – CubeSat and small satellite use cases, regulation, and scaling toward 100 kg platforms12:04 – How low-thrust propulsion works in space compared with terrestrial expectations13:58 – Customer demand from regulation, unique missions, and satellite separation demonstrations15:58 – Common missions for small satellites, including communications, Earth observation, science, and quantum key distribution17:45 – Customer base across ESA, startups, universities, research organizations, and government agencies18:40 – Flight heritage, launched thrusters, plasma brake milestones, and upcoming in-orbit data19:54 – Launch availability, SpaceX rideshare dynamics, and Europe’s push for local launch capability23:09 – Performance tradeoffs between chemical propulsion, electric propulsion, and Aurora’s middle-ground approach26:26 – Finland’s growing space ecosystem and the rise of companies such as ICEYE, ReOrbit, and Kuva Space28:58 – Differences between building space companies in Europe and the United States31:55 – European defense funding, ESA/EU shifts, and the changing investor landscape33:35 – Scaling production, manufacturability, and preparing for higher-volume orders35:54 – Multi-thruster configurations, redundancy, and proximity operations architectures37:05 – Future markets in defense, distributed computing platforms, and small-spacecraft constellations39:12 – Building for future regulation and maneuverability requirements41:03 – Why propulsion systems take years to develop, qualify, and demonstrate in orbit44:25 – Modular product architecture, 10x thruster scaling, and shorter delivery timelines47:04 – Investor questions around quality processes, new space development, and scalable production49:49 – Closing thoughts on the convergence of new space and old space operating models This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit balerionspace.substack.com