Phase Four Announces Early Access Purchase Agreement with Tyvak for Maxwell On-Orbit Propulsion System

Purchase of Phase Four's new Maxwell thruster validates demand for its, "Plug and play delta-V," propulsion system in LEO

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Phase Four

Jan 31, 2019, 07:00 ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Phase Four, a best in class provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, announced that Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., a Terran Orbital corporation, has purchased multiple Maxwell thrusters for Tyvak's expanding portfolio of end-to-end microsatellite solutions. Tyvak, known for its impressive base of U.S. government and commercial customers, selected Maxwell to validate its capability to fulfill multiple mission needs, including orbital adjustments and safe de-orbiting of satellites.

Introduced in November 2018, Phase Four's Maxwell is the first turnkey RF thruster-based propulsion solution targeted at small satellite constellations and is gaining swift traction with commercial and government satellite manufacturers like Tyvak. Maxwell brings new small satellite constellations the performance and efficiency of traditional electric engines, while obviating the need for expensive components that have stalled high performance propulsion solutions for small satellites.

With efficiency and scalability at the forefront, Phase Four's core thruster technology allows for future spacecraft to use less expensive propellants or propellants sourced in space, further contributing to first-in-market differentiators and the sustainable in-space industry. Phase Four will begin shipping Maxwell beginning in Q3 2019.

"The emergence and sheer number of small satellite constellations headed into space over the next few years marks a turning point for the space economy, as increased demand for more commercial missions drive significant ROI for the first time in history," said Beau Jarvis, Phase Four CEO. "Maxwell was designed to be the engine that powers these missions into LEO and beyond in an economical and efficient manner for our customers and we believe our RF Thruster technology will be the long-term solution for satellite propulsion."

About Phase Four
Based in El Segundo, California, Phase Four is enabling the exponential growth of satellite constellations by solving the satellite's costliest problem, the propulsion system. The company's electrodeless RF thruster is one of the highest performing plasma propulsion systems available today, and can be scaled for use from nanosatellites to small satellites to traditional, large satellites. By eliminating the most common failure points in incumbent technologies - electrodes, high-voltage electronics, and complex fabrication - Phase Four has built a system that is reliable and offers high-performance with baked-in manufacturability. Designed with tomorrow's satellites and constellations in mind, the Phase Four plasma thruster provides small satellites performance levels on par with traditional large satellites propulsion systems. Phase Four is proof that high performance can come in small packages. Visit us at: www.phasefour.io.

About Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., a Terran Orbital Corporation
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Terran Orbital is a leading innovator and provider of end-to-end nanosatellite and microsatellite services and solutions for U.S. government agencies and commercial enterprises. The Company is a pioneer in the miniaturization of space technologies, making space responsive, with the ability to quickly and economically design, build and launch state-of-the-art satellites.

SOURCE Phase Four