Safran and Terran Orbital ink deal to manufacture satellite electric propulsion systems in the United States.

Safran Electronics and Defense and Terran Orbital have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to study and validate the prerequisites for production of a new generation of electric propulsion systems for satellites in the United States. The agreement is based on Safran’s PPSX00 plasma thruster. The two companies will undertake an in-depth analysis to determine the technical, industrial and economic prerequisites for a new US-based production line for electric propulsion systems. The location under consideration is a Terran Orbital facility in Irvine, California, which produces microsatellites. The new line will match Safran’s production facilities in France, eventually doubling the company’s international production capacity.