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Launching into deep space commerce - Annual Report 2024
15 June, 2025
From left: Dr Ben Mallett with the prototype thruster; the prototype thruster operating inside the space-simulation chamber; Jamal Olatunji with the superconducting magnet bound for the international space station.
Associate Investigator Dr Ben Mallett and his co-founder Dr Jamal Olatunji took the plunge and founded their start-up to commercialise thruster technology that enables routine deep space travel for large spacecraft. The company is spinning-out from Paihau-Robinson Research Institute after its demonstration of several world-firsts related to the thrust technology, and the upcoming launch of the Heki mission to the International Space Station.
The market validation process was the single most important factor in our deciding to take the plunge and spin-out JxB.
Dr Ben Mallett MacDiarmid Institute Associate Investigator
The MacDiarmid Institute has supported the team with critical advice and supported the team's market validation work through an early seed funding round. The skills, knowledge and networks the team gained by undertaking the market validation has enabled them to effectively engage with potential international partners and investors.
The company - JxB Space Systems - has an option agreement for the exclusive license to commercialise the technology, and will be raising capital in early 2025 with its aim of taking the prototype into commercial partner testing.
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