Electric propulsion (EP) is often described as a single technology quietly pushing spacecraft across vast distances. In reality, it is an integrated discipline that spans propulsion hardware, power processing, thermal control, system integration and long-duration operations. It is the connective tissue behind proliferated space capabilities, enabling global communications, persistent Earth observation and intelligence architectures that operate continuously at scale. That broader story is rarely told – and it is where EP’s true strategic value lies.
EP is not a standalone subsystem. It is a family of capabilities designed to enable sustained, precise and resilient space operations across commercial, civil and national-security missions. From long-duration cislunar logistics to modern missile-defense architectures, Voyager’s EP portfolio illustrates how the technology has evolved from a niche efficiency solution into mission- critical
infrastructure.
What Is Electric Propulsion?
At its core, EP trades instantaneous thrust for endurance. By using electrical power to accelerate ions, these systems achieve extremely high specific impulse, allowing spacecraft to operate for years while carrying far less propellant than chemical alternatives.
The thruster itself, however, is only part of the equation. Operational EP depends on tightly integrated power processing units, propellant management, thermal control and software capable of sustaining continuous operation over tens of thousands of hours. In this regime, reliability, predictability and graceful degradation matter as much as raw performance.
“EP delivers its full value when it’s treated as part of the spacecraft’s core architecture and an integral part of the mission design,” said Michael VanWoerkom, general manager at Voyagerand CEO of recently acquired ExoTerra Resource. “We focus on propulsion systems that are optimized for the mission, with the reliability and resilience real missions demand.”
Enabling Long-Duration Missions and Cislunar Logistics
As space activity expands beyond low-Earth orbit, endurance becomes the defining constraint. Cislunar space introduces long transit times, complex orbital dynamics and limited opportunities for resupply, placing a premium on efficiency and sustained operability.
EP enables spacecraft to spiral efficiently from Earth orbit into high-energy cislunar trajectories, maintain stable orbits around Lagrange points, and perform continuous station-keeping for
years at a time. These capabilities underpin future cislunar infrastructure, including communications relays, navigation services, space domain awareness platforms and logistics vehicles that must reposition as mission needs evolve.
“Persistence is the difference between experimentation and operational capability,” said Matt Magaña, president of Space, Defense and National Security at Voyager. “EP allows spacecraft to stay where they’re needed, adapt over time and support missions that simply aren’t feasible with traditional propulsion alone.”
Precision, Persistence and Adaptability
Modern space architectures are increasingly distributed, relying on coordinated constellations and formation-flying systems rather than single, monolithic spacecraft. EP provides the fine maneuvering authority that makes these architectures possible, enabling precise spacing, synchronized orbital adjustments and long-term relative positioning through continuous, low-thrust control.
That same capability translates directly to national-security applications. In missile defense and space-based sensing architectures, EP allows assets to reposition, reconfigure and sustain coverage over time, strengthening resilience and reducing reliance on single-point systems. Voyager’s EP capabilities support these distributed approaches with consistent thrust profiles and scalable designs optimized for extended mission lifetimes.
“EP gives system architects options,” Magaña said. “It allows missions to evolve on orbit, adjusting geometry, extending utility and responding to changing operational demands without redesigning the entire architecture.”
Built for Sustained Operations
Voyager’s EP solutions are designed for this operational reality. Engineered as fully integrated, flight-proven systems, they are aligned from the outset with spacecraft power, avionics and mission architectures rather than added later as standalone components. The result is propulsion optimized for long life, predictable performance and operational flexibility, enabling spacecraft to function as persistent, reconfigurable assets instead of expendable platforms.
As cislunar space transitions from episodic exploration to sustained operations, this shift is foundational. It defines how missions are designed, how infrastructure is deployed and how long-term capability is maintained across the space domain.
Beyond their established role in EP, Power Processing Units (PPUs) represent a scalable technology foundational to the extra-terrestrial power grid. The capability to manage high voltage loads makes the PPU the critical interface for advanced power generation, including future space nuclear systems. These power grids will be much more complex than their earthbound equivalents, managing distributed power generation, complex battery systems and new power sources. Ultimately, the PPU will function as the universal interface unifying power generation and propulsion for long-duration missions.