Ionic Science, Powering Tomorrow’s Space: Ion-X
By focusing on next-generation electric propulsion, Ion-X aims to provide small satellites with greater autonomy, increased agility, and reduced dependence on major space powers. Backed by a partnership between TechnoFounders and CNRS, the startup is exploring a technological approach that has long remained in the shadows: electrohydrodynamic ionic propulsion, where precision is as important as raw power.
Better Propulsion Without Reinventing Everything
In the universe of small satellites, every gram counts. Every watt too. Ion-X operates within this delicate balance.
“Our engine seeks the best compromise between thrust, power consumption, and overall efficiency” explains Thomas Hiriart, CEO of the startup.
The technology relies on an electrohydrodynamic principle: ions are extracted from a conductive liquid, then accelerated to produce continuous thrust with minimal energy. Nothing chemical or explosive here, but precision work made possible by the satellite’s own solar energy. The engine remains compact, efficient, and perfectly adapted to the constraints of low Earth orbit, where satellite density continues to increase.
Today, small satellites serve the same purposes as large ones. The difference is that they're cheaper to produce and launch.
A liquid propellant and fewer certainties
Ion-X has also made a bold choice regarding propellant: no gaseous xenon or pressurized tanks. Instead, they use a non-toxic ionic liquid available locally.
“It’s a fluid we purchase in France from industrial suppliers. It’s simpler to store, safer, and less expensive than conventional alternatives” explains Thomas Hiriart.
Behind this technical choice lies another challenge: simplifying logistics while meeting the space sector’s new expectations regarding safety, environmental impact, and industrial sovereignty. As small satellites become increasingly useful (Earth observation, connectivity, geolocation), their mobility needs become strategic.
Space, on an Industrial Scale
Having worked at CNES, NASA, and ArianeGroup, Thomas Hiriart was also a consultant at BCG. This trajectory between science and strategy is what he now leverages to structure an industrial project. Since his arrival, Ion-X has secured two rounds of funding, including a Series A in 2024, with support from the European Commission, Expansion, Innovacom, and TechnoFounders.
The first Ion-X engine was put into orbit in early 2025 aboard a Danish satellite launched by SpaceX. The challenge: six months of testing in real conditions to validate performance. In parallel, an assembly plant is planned in the Paris region to support scaling up. The scale-up is underway—but it will proceed in Ion-X’s style: efficient, methodical, without fanfare.
A Strategic Dimension
In a context of geopolitical tensions and growing technological dependencies, the question of space mobility takes on a new dimension.
“Without satellites, we’d return to the stone age” reminds Thomas Hiriart. Weather, navigation, maritime surveillance, agriculture, telecommunications: space infrastructure permeates our daily lives, often without our awareness.
Ion-X doesn’t claim to revolutionize everything. But by providing a lightweight, modular, and high-performance solution, the startup is helping to strengthen a European ecosystem that is still too dependent on foreign standards. Propelling differently is also a way of taking back control.
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