Spacedev Inc. has been issued a patent for its hybrid propulsion technology related to fine altitude and control systems on a spacecraft, the company announced Aug. 9.

The “Hybrid Propulsion System” patent issued by the U.S. Patent Office covers technology that provides increased control of thruster minimum impulse over conventional systems while simultaneously reducing oxidizer waste.

The improvement can lead to lower cost and higher efficiency for propulsion systems, Spacedev said.