A New Electric Propulsion Satellite Thruster to Meet Demand for New Constellations

June 1, 2026

Rocket Lab Corporation
Long Beach, CA
www.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab’s new in-house designed and manufactured electric propulsion system, named “Gauss,” features a hall thruster, power processing unit and a propellant management assembly. Recognizing the importance of bringing a new high-performance electric propulsion system to market, but also making it available at scale, Rocket Lab has already established a high-volume Gauss production line designed to produce more than 200 thrusters per year.

Electric propulsion thrusters have historically proven extremely difficult to produce in high volumes, causing supply chain fragility for national security and commercial constellation operators alike. Rocket Lab has leveraged extensive propulsion experience, as well as the proven ability to manufacture critical satellite subsystems in high volumes, to finally deliver an electric propulsion solution in the rapidly growing quantities needed by the global space industry.

The Gauss thruster is designed to produce a higher specific impulse compared to traditional chemical propulsion systems, enabling it to produce more thrust per unit of propellant and making it more efficient for long-duration missions. Because of this high efficiency, the Gauss thruster will allow spacecraft to carry less propellant while still achieving high performance, making it ideal for prolonged missions, such as deep space exploration, and satellite station-keeping within constellations.

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