British rocket scientists 'going rogue' to test plasma propulsion this weekend

Magdrive, a British space company, will on Saturday launch its Rogue thruster into space, marking its first in-orbit demonstration.

The mission, called “Going Rogue” lifts off on 21 June, aboard a D-Orbit vehicle.

It will be the first flight test of a solid-metal 'plasma propulsion' system which is designed to deliver high thrust at low mass. These thrusters are expected to be ideal for use on satelittes.

The Rogue thruster is designed to convert solid metal into plasma bursts, and the idea is that it will be able to use 'space junk' as a propellant.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said it is a significant opportunity, to demonstrate a new propulsion capability.

"The flight of Magdrive’s Rogue thruster will be a critical demonstration of an innovative new propulsion capability," Bate said.

"This is a significant opportunity, as there are thousands of satellites set to be launched that will need more flexible and efficient propulsion systems to avoid collisions or perform more complex missions.

"We’re proud to support companies like Magdrive and the home-grown innovations that push scientific boundaries and deliver benefits for our economy and security.”

Magdrive is run out of Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, in Oxfordshire, and also has an office in LA. The company aims to commercialise in-space logistics and debris management with its next-generation thrusters.

Since a pre-seed funding round of $2 million in late 2020, Magdrive subsequently raised $10.5 million in February. Its enterprise value is estimated at around $40 million.