Abstract
Space used to be controlled by national space agencies and state-owned companies but with more and more private actors entering the sector the roles are shifting. One core enabler for the resulting rapid development of space infrastructure we see today is the commercialization of ground-breaking research work done by scientists from all over the world. In his role as founder and CEO of ENPULSION, the world’s lead manufacturer for electric propulsion systems for nano- and microsatellites, Alexander Reissner has been operating at the cutting-edge of space propulsion technologies for years. In this talk Alexander will, therefore, not only be sharing his learnings from turning extensive research and development work to market-leading products but also his personal take on the opportunities that the democratization of space holds for all of us.
Short CV
Alexander Reissner is an aerospace engineer and founder and CEO of ENPULSION. He holds a MSc degree in Physics and a PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering. Alexander started his career in the space industry with RUAG Space, later joining the Austrian Institute of Technology and becoming the team leader for Electric Propulsion Systems. In 2013, he became the Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at FOTEC, the research subsidiary of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt. While growing this department from 5 to 17 scientists and engineers, he realized the potential of the Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology for the SmallSat market and founded ENPULSION in 2016.
About ENPULSION
ENPULSION is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric propulsion systems for nano- and microsatellites. The company is based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, and has a business development office in the USA. Its products are based on the company’s proprietary Field-Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology, behind which are more than 30 years of research and development work in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Research Facility FOTEC. As of July 2021, ENPULSION has delivered over 200 propulsion systems to customers with over 80 ENPULSION thrusters in space supporting a wide range of scientific and commercial missions.