{"id":37101,"date":"2025-09-22T18:15:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T18:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/37101\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T18:15:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T18:15:09","slug":"quantum-space-acquires-phase-fours-propulsion-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/37101\/","title":{"rendered":"Quantum Space Acquires Phase Four\u2019s Propulsion Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alabama spacecraft manufacturer Quantum Space is already putting its $40M Series A extension round to work, announcing the acquisition of Phase Four\u2019s multi-modal propulsion tech on Monday for an undisclosed amount.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quantum has also taken over ownership of Phase Four\u2019s integration and test facility in Hawthorne, CA, which can churn out up to 100 engines per year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Paying in gold: The deal opens the door for Quantum to integrate Phase Four\u2019s unique propulsion capabilities to fuel Quantum\u2019s Golden Dome ambitions. Phase Four\u2019s multi-modal propulsion system uses chemical and electric propulsion to perform high thrust or high efficiency maneuvers, depending on the mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the details of the multi-billion-dollar Golden Dome are not yet fully fleshed out, Quantum has signaled its intention to snag as many of the project\u2019s missile defense contracts as possible.<\/p>\n

In May, Quantum tapped former Missile Defense Agency exec Richard Matlock<\/a> to lead its defense business.<\/p>\n

And Quantum has spent the summer detailing its vision for what would be needed to field the entire Golden Dome architecture. In a whitepaper, Matlock highlighted many critical technologies that would need to be developed to field a resilient system, including multi-orbit networks of sensors, satellite swarms for boost-phase missile interception, directed energy weapons, and space-based kinetic interceptors.<\/p>\n

Build or buy: Quantum\u2019s flagship spacecraft, Ranger, coincidentally checks many of the boxes to host these in-space missile defense capabilities.<\/p>\n

Ranger is a highly maneuverable, multi-orbit vehicle first announced in 2023, which can support multiple payload types including sensors, interceptors, and anti-satellite tech.<\/p>\n

Quantum says that Ranger is already designed for long-life, persistent operations, with the ability to last 15+ years and refuel on orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The acquisition of Phase Four\u2019s tech, however, could expand Quantum\u2019s core capabilities, by equipping Ranger with the propulsion tech needed to fly a wider range of missions for DoD.<\/p>\n

For Phase Four, the sale gives the company a fast route into DoD missions, even if it means that Phase Four\u2019s name may no longer be on the building. Two weeks ago, Apex purchased Phase Four\u2019s Hall-effect thruster technology, in a deal that included hardware and personnel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPartnering with Quantum Space ensures that this technology scales and finds its way into the missions that matter most\u2014defense, science, commercial infrastructure,\u201d Phase Four\u2019s CEO Steve Kiser said in a statement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alabama spacecraft manufacturer Quantum Space is already putting its $40M Series A extension round to work, announcing the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37102,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[111,139,69,147,392],"class_list":["post-37101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37101"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37101\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}