Turion Space’s Autonomous Spacecraft Docking and Maneuvering System: Advancing Space Exploration with Micro-Droids and Ion Thrusters

Turion Space, a startup based in Irvine, California, has recently been awarded a $1.9 million contract from SpaceWERX, the U.S. Space Force’s technology arm, to develop an autonomous spacecraft docking and maneuvering system. The goal of the contract is to advance technologies for dealing with uncooperative space objects and aiding in the deorbit of inactive satellites.

Ryan Westerdahl, CEO and co-founder of Turion Space, stated in an interview that the company is focused on in-space mobility and non-Earth imaging. In June 2023, Turion launched its first satellite, Droid.001, a 32-kilogram spacecraft designed for space situational awareness. The data from this satellite is being included in the Space Force’s Unified Data Library.

Westerdahl has revealed plans for a demonstration in 2026 that will showcase a Droid mothership carrying “micro-Droid” satellites with capturing devices designed under the SpaceWERX contract. These micro-Droids, partially funded by NASA, will use grapplers to capture debris objects.

Turion’s ultimate objective is to provide a debris removal service but for now, the company is concentrating on hosting space domain awareness payloads to generate constant revenue. Turion plans to offer three payload hosting options: Droid Alpha Mini, Droid Alpha and Droid Alpha Enhanced Mobility with ion thrusters.

Turion’s next satellite launch, scheduled for February 2025 will demonstrate the larger Droid Alpha bus. Westerdahl predicts that by 2027, Turion will be manufacturing 45 satellites annually. The enhanced mobility ion thrusters will be co-produced with Desert Works Propulsion, a specialist in electric propulsion for space applications.

So far, Turion Space has raised nearly $20 million in venture capital since its founding in 2020 by Ryan Westerdahl along with Tyler James Pierce and Patryk Wiatr