New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has completed the first orbital test of its "Supertorquer," a shoebox-sized superconducting magnet system that uses solar power and Earth's magnetic field to hel...

Principaux renseignements Le Supertorquer de Zenno Astronautics utilise des aimants supraconducteurs pour manœuvrer les satellites sans carburant

Superconducting Magnets Steer Satellites Without Fuel

Principaux renseignements Le Supertorquer de Zenno Astronautics utilise des aimants supraconducteurs pour manœuvrer les satellites sans carburant

The Supertorquer is integrated aboard Portal Space Systems' Starburst-1 spacecraft, which Portal recently revealed publicly for the first time.

Zenno Astronautics tested its Supertorquer on Mira satellite, allowing fuel-free acceleration via solar-powered magnets for sustainable propulsion.

New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has completed the first orbital test of its "Supertorquer," a shoebox-sized superconducting magnet system that uses solar power and Earth's magnetic field to help control a satellite without fuel. The company says the technology could eventually support fuel-fr...

New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has completed the first orbital test of its "Supertorquer," a shoebox-sized superconducting magnet system that uses solar power and Earth's magnetic field to help control a satellite without fuel. The company says the technology could eventually support fuel-free satellite maneuvers, docking, deep-space trajectory changes, and even magnetic radiation shielding for astronauts. Space Magazine reports: The tests began shortly after Mira's launch in November last year aboard the SpaceX Transporter 12 mission and saw the shoebox-size device perform with flying colors, Zenno Astronautics CEO and founder Max Arshavsky, told Space.com. "It's a technology that allows a spacecraft to not tumble violently in space and point in the right direction," Arshavsky said. "The unit has multiple super-conducting magnets that are positioned in different axes. When we power up the magnets, they generate a magnetic field, which interacts with Earth's magnetic field, and because we can control the magnetic field on the satellite, we can control the way in which it turns with respect to Earth." Superconducting magnets are made of coils of superconducting wire that have zero electrical resistance and can therefore conduct much larger currents than normal wires. That larger current translates into a greater magnetic force. There is, however, a catch: Superconducting materials need to be cooled to extremely low temperatures to gain their wonder properties. [...] The unit housing the superconducting magnets is wrapped in layers of insulation and fitted with a heat pump that removes all the excess heat from the system. Every time the satellite needs a push, the superconducting coils power up, drawing energy from a battery charged by the satellite's solar panels. "It's converting solar energy straight into useful work," Arshavsky said. "Energy is the one thing that is abundant in space, and you can use it to energize the magnet to create a magnetic acceleration device. It gives you acceleration without fuel." In the future, Zenno Astronautics plans to launch larger systems that could enable spacecraft to dock in space or conduct close proximity operations using just the power of their solar-powered superconducting magnets. Arshavsky envisions powerful magnets that could, in the future, propel spacecraft on missions to the moon and Mars using only solar power. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Principaux renseignements Une nouvelle ère de manœuvres satellitaires s’ouvre avec l’intégration du Supertorquer de Zenno Astronautics à l’engin spatial Starburst-1, développé par Portal Space Systems. Considérée comme l’actionneur magnétique le plus puissant destiné à être déployé dans l’espace, cette technologie utilise des électroaimants supraconducteurs pour contrôler l’orientation d’un engin, éliminant ainsi le recours aux propulseurs […]

Key takeaways Er breekt een nieuw tijdperk aan voor het manoeuvreren van satellieten met de integratie van de Supertorquer van Zenno Astronautics in het Starburst-1-ruimtevaartuig, ontwikkeld door Portal Space Systems. Die technologie, die wordt beschouwd als de krachtigste magnetische actuator die voor gebruik in de ruimte is bestemd, maakt gebruik van supergeleidende elektromagneten om de […]

Zenno’s Supertorquer used solar-powered superconducting magnets and Earth’s field to control a satellite without propellant.

New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has successfully tested its 'Supertorquer' superconducting magnet system in orbit, demonstrating a fuel-free method to control satellites using Earth's magnetic field. The technology, which uses solar power to generate magnetic fields that interact with Earth's field, could enable future satellite maneuvers, docking, and deep-space missions without traditional fuel. The device, housed in a shoebox-sized unit, employs superconducting magnets cooled to extreme temperatures to create precise magnetic forces. While the system requires energy from solar panels and a heat pump to manage thermal loads, it offers a potential solution for long-term satellite operations. Critics question the feasibility of using this technology for interplanetary travel due to the weakening magnetic field at greater distances, but proponents highlight its value for Earth orbit station-keeping. The innovation represents a significant step toward more sustainable and efficient space exploration technologies.

New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has completed the first orbital test of its "Supertorquer," a shoebox-sized superconducting magnet system that uses solar power and Earth's magnetic field to help control a satellite without fuel. The company says the technology could eventually support fuel-fr...

New Zealand startup Zenno Astronautics has completed the first orbital test of its "Supertorquer," a shoebox-sized superconducting magnet system that uses solar power and Earth's magnetic field to hel...

Shoebox-Sized Superconducting Thruster Demonstrates Fuel-Free Maneuvering in First Orbital Test Date: 2026-07-07 Featured image: [Diagram of the Z01 Supertorquer superconducting magnet system showing coils and heat pump assembly; credit: Zenno Astronautics] A shoebox-sized superconducting thruster that generates acceleration without consuming propellant has completed its first in-orbit test, marking the first time a superconducting device has

Shoebox-Sized Superconducting Thruster Demonstrates Fuel-Free Maneuvering in First Orbital Test Date: 2026-07-07 Featured image: [Diagram of the Z01 Supertorquer superconducting magnet system showing coils and heat pump assembly; credit: Zenno Astronautics] A shoebox-sized superconducting thruster that generates acceleration without consuming propellant has completed its first in-orbit test, marking the first time a superconducting device has