Phase Four, a leading propulsion company, has secured a funding increase of $4.26 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX, its innovation arm. The additional funding will be used to develop a propellant decomposition chamber for propellant-agnostic electric propulsion.
This funding increase falls under the Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) category of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process. The aim of this project is to address the challenges faced by the Department of the Air Force and enhance national defense capabilities.
Jason Wallace, Vice President of Advanced Development at Phase Four, expressed pride in the continued support and recognition from the Department of the Air Force. He highlighted Phase Four’s expertise in developing high-performance, American-made satellite propulsion systems with propellant-agnostic capabilities.
Founded in 2015, Phase Four specializes in providing advanced propulsion systems for satellite constellations. Last year, the company introduced a groundbreaking engine for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, utilizing domestically sourced iodine-based propellant.