Magdrive

Magdrive Ltd
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded2019; 7 years ago (2019)
Founders
  • Mark Stokes
  • Thomas Clayson
Headquarters
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire
,
United Kingdom
ProductsElectric plasma thrusters
Websitemagdrive.space

Magdrive Ltd is a British space technology company headquartered at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. Founded in 2019 by Mark Stokes (CEO) and Dr Thomas Clayson (CTO), the company develops compact, high-thrust electric plasma propulsion systems for small satellites and spacecraft using solid metal propellant.[1] In June 2025, Magdrive launched its first two thrusters into orbit in collaboration with D-Orbit.[2]

History

Magdrive was founded in 2019 by Mark Stokes and plasma physicist Dr Thomas Clayson, both graduates of Imperial College London.[1] Initially funded by a $2 million pre-seed round led by Founders Fund in 2020, the company has since secured public grants from the UK Government, UK Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.[3][4]

In February 2025, Magdrive announced a $10.5 million seed funding round led by Redalpine, with participation from Founders Fund, Balerion Space Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Outsized Ventures, Entrepreneur First, and 7percent Ventures.[1] As of early 2025, the company had raised approximately $22.5 million in total, including public funding.[3]

Technology

Magdrive’s propulsion systems use solid metal propellant and onboard energy storage to generate high-energy plasma, achieving thrust levels significantly greater than traditional electric propulsion systems of similar size. The company's Rogue thruster, designed to fit within a CubeSat form factor (~2.5 kg dry mass), produces thrust in the range of tens of millinewtons. It is intended for satellite constellation management, in-space servicing, and space debris avoidance.[1]

An in-orbit demonstration of the Rogue thruster—part of the "Going Rogue" mission—was launched in June 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-14 rideshare mission, in partnership with D-Orbit.[5]

Missions

Year Partner Launch vehicle Description
2023 EnduroSat Falcon 9
(Transporter-6)		 First in-orbit experiment; technology demonstration of Magdrive’s plasma propulsion in microgravity.
2025 D-Orbit Falcon 9
(Transporter-14)		 First full-scale in-orbit test of the Rogue thruster during the “Going Rogue” mission.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Foust, Jeff (26 February 2025). "Magdrive raises $10.5 million and opens U.S. office". SpaceNews. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  2. ^ "The start-up building engines from space junk". BBC News. July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Magdrive Ltd secures EIC Accelerator funding and raises €22.5M for electric propulsion systems". European Innovation Council. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. ^ Corfield, Gareth (12 March 2021). "British start-up lands state backing to develop interplanetary propulsion system". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Magdrive launches first flight of next-gen plasma thruster". Startups Magazine. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.

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