OSMOS X

OSMOS X, founded in 2022 near Rennes, France, is a pioneering deep‑tech start‑up reshaping space logistics with its proprietary electro‑plasmic ion‑thruster technology. The company has positioned itself as the first dedicated “space trucking company,” offering reusable orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) branded “Thorus” to service satellite missions across LEO, MEO and GEO. Their breakthrough propulsion system harnesses electron cyclotron resonance to generate highly‑charged plasma ions, achieving exceptionally high specific impulse and thrust efficiency with minimal propellant consumption. This allows OSMOS X vehicles to undertake multiple missions per launch, dramatically lowering costs and extending mission flexibility.

Rather than selling solely hardware, OSMOS X plans to operate its own fleet, delivering services such as last‑mile satellite deployment, orbit adjustments, on‑orbit repositioning, refueling, and contactless debris removal. Their unique debris mitigation approach uses directed ion beams to gently alter defunct objects’ orbits without physical contact—mitigating fragmentation risk. Major space institutions like ESA and NASA have expressed interest in these methods, with support including an EIC Pathfinder grant and ESA BIC incubation.

The firm designs, builds, and intends to operate its own vehicles and thrusters, offering both one‑off hardware sales and ongoing logistics contracts. With €2 million+ in seed funding from investors including Expansion Ventures, Rymdkapital and Audacia, the team comprises experts in plasma physics and ion propulsion with ties to particle accelerator research. Their roadmap targets first ground thruster demonstrators in 2025, in‑orbit demonstrators by 2026, commercial thrusters by 2028, and full operational OTV fleet deployment by 2030.

OSMOS X positions itself at the intersection of aerospace manufacturing and space services, emphasizing sustainability, efficiency, and scalability. By reducing onboard fuel mass (up to 40‑60 %) and offering reusable vehicles, the company seeks to extend satellite lifespans, optimize launch economics, and support sustainable operations by tackling orbital debris. In short, OSMOS X aims to open a new frontier for industrialized, cost‑effective space logistics through cutting‑edge propulsion and operations.

Keywords: space logistics, orbital transfer, OTV, deep‑tech propulsion, ion thruster, debris removal, reusable spacecraft, satellite servicing, high‑efficiency, space sustainability.