Elwing, OHB Sweden Deal Hints at European Electric-Propulsion Satellite Effort
By Jeffrey Hill | March 20, 2012
[Satellite TODAY 03-20-12] Elwing’s European affiliate Elwing Europe has entered into an agreement with satellite manufacturer OHB Sweden to develop advanced platform technologies for satellites, the companies confirmed March 19.
Elwing is best known for its development of electrodeless plasma propulsion technology, which it has tested comprehensively in the United States and Europe. OHB Sweden, originally part of the Swedish Space Corp., was the prime contractor of SMART-1, the first European Space Agency mission to the Moon that used electric propulsion.
“We are confident that our development of advanced propulsion technologies combined with the capabilities of OHB to implement new technologies will represent a new era in the satellite industry for next-generation satellite customers,” Elwing CEO Gregory Ensellem said in a statement.
The partnership follows an announcement that Boeing made at the SATELLITE 2012 conference and trade show to acknowledge that it was building electric propulsion satellites for ABS and Satmex.