Protolaunch Secures £1 Million UK Space Agency Grant to Pioneer Water-Based Hybrid Propulsion

WESTCOTT, UK – 16/12/2025 

Protolaunch is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a £1 million grant from the UK Space Agency's National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP). This critical funding will accelerate the development of a groundbreaking hybrid (chemical-electric) propulsion system that uses water as its common, non-toxic propellant.

The overall NSIP project is focused on creating a versatile, dual-mode system that features both a high-thrust chemical thruster and a high-efficiency electric thruster, both ingeniously designed to draw propellant from a shared water reservoir.

Accelerating Green Chemical Thrust

Protolaunch’s core role in this project (as project lead) will leverage its in-house expertise to focus on the chemical component: the 20N Oxygen-Hydrogen thruster. This work includes:

• Intensive Sea-Level Testing: Protolaunch will conduct an extensive test campaign at its specialised Propulsion Test Facility at the Westcott Space Cluster, accelerating the thruster’s qualification.

  
  

• Rapid Development: This development will rapidly mature the thruster technology, readying it for an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD).

  
  

“Securing this NSIP grant is a massive vote of confidence in our team and in the future of green propulsion technology,” said Matt Escott, Protolaunch CEO. “By uniting high-thrust chemical power with high-efficiency electric manoeuvring, and using water as the common propellant, we are creating a versatile, safe, and highly sustainable propulsion architecture. Our in-house test capabilities at Westcott are key to accelerating the 20N thruster development.”

The Future of Sustainable In-Space Mobility

The innovative water-based hybrid system addresses the increasing need for sustainability and flexibility in space. By using water—a non-hazardous, universally available propellant—satellites can benefit from:

• Reduced Costs through Enhanced Safety: Satellites can ship fully fuelled meaning simplified ground handling costs and fuelling procedures.

  
  

• Mission Versatility: The ability to execute both fast, high-thrust orbital changes and slow, fuel-efficient long-duration manoeuvres from a single propellant source.

  
  

This project reinforces Protolaunch’s position at the forefront of the UK’s sustainable space technology sector, driving forward the next generation of in-space mobility solutions.

If you'd like to contact us regarding the development of the hybrid propulsion system or the 20N chemical thruster - please use the Contact page on our website.