The Castellón-based company Arkadia Space and the German company Reflex Aerospace have closed a strategic agreement to incorporate Arkadia's hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion technology into an upcoming mission of the German manufacturer, a relevant step for both firms and for the entire European space sector.
Within the framework of this alliance, Arkadia Space will deliver a complete propulsion system, based on hydrogen peroxide, prepared to execute maneuvers in orbit and facilitate deorbiting at the end of the satellite's operational life. The mission will take place in low Earth orbit (LEO) and the satellite will have an approximate mass of 200 kilograms.
For Reflex Aerospace, this project represents a qualitative leap, as it will incorporate chemical propulsion into one of its satellite platforms for the first time. The launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027 within SpaceX's Transporter-20 rideshare program.
The established timeline involves an accelerated development of approximately 12 months from the program's start until the system is ready to fly. "Welcoming Reflex Aerospace to Arkadia Space's client portfolio is a significant milestone for our company and a clear validation of the reliability, maturity, and versatility of our propulsion technology. With MaiaSpace, Dassault Aviation, and now Reflex Aerospace, we can proudly state that we are capable of meeting the propulsion needs of a wide variety of clients," said Francho García, CEO and co-founder of Arkadia Space.
"More importantly, this agreement reflects the strength of the European space ecosystem: European companies collaborating to build sovereign, competitive, and more sustainable space capabilities for the future," he added.
Mission Requirements and Scope
In this regard, Walter Ballheimer, CEO and founder of Reflex Aerospace, explained that the choice of Arkadia Space as a propulsion partner was a logical consequence for the company. "Their flight-validated green propulsion technology, their modular approach, and their ability to adapt quickly to mission requirements made them a key partner for this project," he indicated.
"As an ITAR-free European provider with proven in-orbit experience, Arkadia Space allows us to move quickly while maintaining high technical standards and supply chain independence. Short lead times and system flexibility are key factors for our ambitious development schedule," he explained.
The agreement strengthens cooperation in the European space industry, bringing together two expanding companies focused on offering sovereign, flexible, and high-performance space capabilities with rapid development cycles. The supplied system integrates TRITON 5N monopropellant thrusters, 7-liter tanks, and flight electronics, all conceived, developed, and manufactured entirely in-house by Arkadia Space.
The propulsion solution for Reflex relies on the in-orbit demonstration carried out by Arkadia in 2025 using DARK, the propulsion module launched on SpaceX's Transporter-13 mission with D-Orbit. This flight campaign confirmed the company's propulsion capabilities in a real space environment, including the performance of the complete system in orbit.