Space research
We design and validate technology to enable more efficient spacecraft operations.
Our research explores the potential of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) for various space applications. Among the most crucial—we are advancing the state of the art to demonstrate that our novel technologies will increase the efficiency of ion thrusters used for satellite station-keeping in orbit. We are collaborating with NASA and Voyager Space Exploration Systems (previously Nanoracks) to send our technology demonstration to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.
With the Hēki technology demonstration mission to the ISS—and Hēki's ground-based complement (Kōkako)—we are pushing the envelope to improve the efficiency of traditional electrical propulsion.
We have formed collaborations worldwide to characterise how high-field superconducting magnets accelerate thruster plasma, improving performance while conforming to a spacecraft-sized power budget.
Our research team is also exploring potential applications for HTS technologies in energy storage, radiation shielding, debris removal, and magneto-shells for atmospheric re-entry.
The team is grateful to Professor Rawinia Higgins, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, for gifting the names “Hēki” and “Kōkako” to us.
Applications and projects
Our cutting-edge facilities and innovative modelling improve propulsion efficiency, radiation shielding on orbit, and re-entry heat shielding designs.
Space facilities and capabilities
We have cutting-edge facilities essential for developing and testing advanced space propulsion technologies.
The team
Our team is a diverse group of engineers, scientists, and students fostering innovation and inclusivity for whom the sky is not the limit but the beginning.