Argo Space's Water-Propelled Chiron Slated for Two 2027 National Security Missions
Ars Technica reports Argo Space's water-based Chiron spacecraft will fly two 2027 national security missions after its July demo failed to test propulsion due to a solar array issue.
The story in focus
Argo Space, founded by three former SpaceX engineers, plans two 2027 Chiron missions for an undisclosed national security customer. Ars Technica reports its July Navigator demo validated avionics and flight software, but a solar array deployment failure left the craft power-negative and prevented propulsion testing.
- Argo Space was founded in late 2022 by Robert, Ryan and Kirby Carlisle, former SpaceX engineers.
- The company's water-based propulsion splits liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar power for thrust.
- The July Navigator demo validated avionics and flight software but a solar array failure prevented propulsion testing.
- Two Chiron missions are planned for 2027 for an undisclosed national security customer.
- Argo aims for more than 2 km/s delta-v in a roughly 200-kg spacecraft.
Water as propellant
Ars Technica reports Argo Space chose water as a propellant because it is potentially harvestable on the Moon and found throughout the Solar System. The spacecraft stores liquid water, then uses solar power to split it into hydrogen and oxygen gases that are burned in a small rocket engine. The company says this approach provides more thrust than a conventional electric thruster at similar power levels, and water also serves as coolant and radiation shield.
Navigator demo and Chiron plans
The July Navigator rideshare mission made contact but one of two rollout solar arrays failed to deploy, leaving the spacecraft power-negative and unable to test propulsion. According to Ars Technica, Robert Carlisle said the mission validated flight software, ground software, core avionics and structures up to flight qualification, but not propulsion.
The next-generation Chiron spacecraft is intended to pack high performance into a roughly 200-kg package. Argo plans two Chiron missions in 2027 for an undisclosed national security customer: the first to low-Earth orbit and the second to geostationary transfer orbit, aiming to demonstrate the propulsion system and maneuvering between orbital environments. Neither mission will fly on a SpaceX vehicle, the report states, because Falcon 9 rideshare availability did not fit the company's schedule.
Larger vehicle planned
After Chiron, Argo is working on a vehicle called Argonaut with a maximum payload capacity of 1,400 kg and a maximum delta-v of 17 km/s per tank. Ars Technica reports that in September the company signed a deal with ispace to deliver ispace's Lunar Connect communication relay satellite to lunar orbit later this decade. Argo has raised $20 million to date and has fewer than 30 people.
How does Argo Space's water propulsion system generate thrust?
It stores liquid water, uses solar power to split it into hydrogen and oxygen gases, then burns them in a small rocket engine. Ars Technica reports this provides more thrust than a conventional electric thruster at similar power.
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