March 20, 2024, 12:20pm ET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RocketStar Announces Successful Demonstration of Fusion-Enhanced
Pulsed Plasma Electric Propulsion
Innovator of in-space propulsion and digital signal processing creates the world’s
first electric propulsion device enhanced with nuclear fusion
NEW YORK CITY, NY – RocketStar Inc. has successfully demonstrated the FireStar Drive, agroundbreaking electric propulsion unit for spacecraft that uses nuclear fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma.
This innovative device significantly boosts the performance of RocketStar's base water-fueled pulsed
plasma thruster by utilizing a unique form of aneutronic nuclear fusion. The base thruster generates highspeed protons through the ionization of water vapor. When these protons collide with the nucleus of a boron
atom, the atom undergoes fusion, transforming into a high-energy form of carbon that rapidly decays into
three alpha particles. By introducing boron into the thruster's exhaust, the FireStar Drive enables this fusion
process. Similar to the way an afterburner enhances thrust in a jet engine by introducing fuel into theexhaust, the fusion occurring in the thruster's exhaust significantly improves its performance.
Discovery
The fusion discovery was first made during an SBIR Phase 1 for AFWERX where boronated water wasintroduced into the pulsed plasma thruster’s exhaust plume. This created alpha particles and gamma rays,
clear indications of nuclear fusion. It was further validated during the subsequent SBIR Phase 2, where at
Georgia Tech's High Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory (HPEPL) in Atlanta, Georgia it not only
created the ionizing radiation but also improved the base propulsion unit’s thrust by 50%.

“RocketStar has not just incrementally improved a propulsion system, but taken a leap forward byapplying a novel concept, creating a fusion-fission reaction in the exhaust,” said Adam Hecht, Professorof Nuclear Engineering and the University of New Mexico. “This is an exciting time in technology
development, and I am looking forward to their future innovations.”“We are thrilled at the results of our initial testing on an idea that our team has been exploring for sometime,” said Chris Craddock, CEO of RocketStar. “On a napkin at a conference in Florida, I sketched thisidea out and described it to Wes Faler, the founder of Miles Space. He was quite clever in developing boththe base thruster and the fusion enhancement. We acquired Miles Space and Faler is now our CTO. So now
I’m excited to take our already stellar thruster and make it fusion-enhanced with remarkable improvementsin performance. Thanks to AFWERX and the USSF for believing it was possible!”
Next Steps
RocketStar’s current thruster is now available for delivery to customers. It’s called the M1.5 and will bedemonstrated in space as a hosted payload on D-Orbit’s proprietary OTV ION Satellite Carrier which will
go on two SpaceX Transporter missions scheduled for July and October of this year.

“We are very happy to have the opportunity to work alongside RocketStar and contribute to thedemonstration of the M1.5,” said Matteo Lorenzoni, Head of Sales at D-Orbit. “We just integrated thethruster onto the ION Satellite Carrier, and look forward to witnessing its performance in orbit.”Plans to test the FireStar Drive include further ground testing this year with an in-space demonstration
scheduled for February 2025 as a hosted payload on Rogue Space System’s Barry-2 spacecraft. “We arevery excited to test FireStar for RocketStar,” said Brent Abbott, CRO at Rogue Space Systems. “We lookforward to considering it for future Rogue missions.”
About RocketStar
RocketStar is focused on providing revolutionary spacecraft engine technologies including aerospike rocket
engines and fusion-enhanced electric propulsion. The company also has developed a suite of digital signalprocessing (DSP) technologies that enable deep space communications, low probability ofintercepts/detection communications, passive radar, and alternative PNT among other capabilities. Formore information, visit: rocketstar.nycAbout AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for theDepartment of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, andintegration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforceof more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides
a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research andtechnology development. For more information, visit: afresearchlab.com/
About AFWERXAs the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX
brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing
challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel
at six hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 4,697
contracts worth more than $2.6 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive fastertechnology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com
About D-Orbit
Founded in 2011, D-Orbit is the first company addressing the logistics needs of the space market. Thecompany’s roadmap includes becoming a relevant player in the in-orbit servicing market, which is
forecasted to become one of the largest, growing markets within the space sector. D-Orbit has offices inItaly, Portugal, the UK, and the US; its commitment to pursuing business models that are profitable,
friendly for the environment, and socially beneficial, led D-Orbit S.p.A. to become the first certified BCorp space company in the world. For more information, visit: dorbit.space
About Rogue Space Systems Corporation
Rogue Space Systems Corporation is a Gilford, New Hampshire-based company that designs satellite
vehicles and subsystems to provide on-orbit services to satellite operators. Founded in 2020, the Rogueteam is building a fleet of Orbital Robots (Orbots™) that will perform a variety of services for orbital
assets in LEO, MEO, and GEO including inspection, maintenance, repair, transport and more. The fleet is
supported by a first of its kind AI-enabled sensory observation platform. For more information,visit: www.rogue.space.
Media Contact
Karen Hamill, Communications Strategy Groupkhamill@wearecsg.com
Disclaimer
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of
the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.