Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Orbion Space Technology in the Smart Zone Business Accelerator, was recently purchased by a Colorado firm.

HOUGHTON – Orbion Space Technology, a Houghton-based satellite propulsion and space systems company, has been sold, according to a press release from the MTEC SmartZone.

York Space Systems, a Denver-based satellite manufacturer announced the deal in a March 12 statement released on Business Wire.

York Space Systems designs and provides space mission solutions for government, defense, and commercial sectors, according to MTEC. The company is a major supplier for national security space programs, with over 30 satellites currently in orbit and multiple constellation missions in progress. By acquiring Orbion, York is able to bring the propulsion technology manufacturing in-house. This move supports the company’s strategy of deepening its vertically integrated approach, providing greater control over the satellite supply chain and enabling spacecraft production at scale.

Orbion was formed in 2016, by co-founders Brad King and Jason Sommerville, and is located on West Lakeshore Drive, in Houghton. The company develops electric propulsion systems for small satellites.

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), King and Sommerville worked together on a research team at Michigan Technological University, then became co-principals at another space company where they worked with defense and intelligence space customers, before forming Orbion.

Orbion designs and manufactures Hall-effect electric thrusters for constellation-scale satellite missions, the York release says. Its Aurora propulsion systems are produced domestically and are already flying on York-built spacecraft supporting U.S. national security missions, including satellites operating as part of fielded military constellations

“Orbion was built to deliver propulsion systems designed to perform reliably on orbit and to produce them in a factory that can meet the scale demands of prolific constellations,” Brad King, co-founder and CEO of Orbion said in the release. “Our work with York has demonstrated what’s possible when propulsion is designed alongside the spacecraft and mission from the start. Joining York allows us to accelerate that approach and support the growing number of missions already being executed today.”

Under the new agreement, says MTEC, Orbion will continue operating from its Houghton facility as a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of York Space Systems.