Helicity Space raises $5M in seed round for fusion propulsion technology

Helicity Space raises $5M in seed round for fusion propulsion technology

Simon Mansfield

Sydney, Australia (SPX) December 21, 2023

The name Helicity Space is starting to resonate with the commercial space industry, recently heralding significant progress in redefining space propulsion. The company has successfully received $5 million in seed round financing, a move that not only highlights the industry’s confidence in fusion technology but also marks a critical moment in space travel innovation.

The round was led by a forward-looking consortium of investors including Airbus Ventures, TRE Ventures, Voyager Space Holdings, E2MC Space, Urania Ventures and Gaingels. Their collective endorsement reflects growing interest in the potential of fusion-powered space propulsion and belief in the Helicity Space vision.

At the heart of Helicity Space’s ambitious undertaking is its groundbreaking Helicity Drive technology. The technology is the product of more than two decades of dedicated research in plasma physics and nuclear fusion, and represents a radical departure from traditional space propulsion methods.

The company’s founders, Dr. Setthivoine You (former professor of plasma physics at the University of Tokyo and the University of Washington), Marta Calvo, who has a background in chemical engineering at Aerojet Rocketdyne, and former Goldman Sachs employee Stephane Lintner, have created a unique team. A combination of expertise and insight. Their collective experience forms the backbone of Helicity Space’s innovative approach.

Helicity Drive is based on cutting-edge principles such as plasma jets, magnetic reconnection and peristaltic magnetic compression. Although complex, these concepts are rooted in a fundamental understanding of plasma behavior and fusion reactions. Electron plasma jets involve twisting and coiling of the plasma stream, which enhances stability and confinement – key aspects of sustained fusion reactions.

Magnetic reconnection is a process common in solar flares and other cosmic phenomena that involves the merging and breaking of magnetic field lines, releasing large amounts of energy. Peristaltic magnetic compression is similar to the squeezing effect in peristalsis and is used to increase the density and temperature of the plasma, bringing it closer to the conditions required for fusion.

Using these principles to develop scalable fusion propulsion engines is more than an academic exercise. These engines are expected to revolutionize space travel, making it safer, faster, reusable and more fuel-efficient. The impact of deep space exploration is far-reaching and has the potential to open up new areas of the solar system for human exploration and commercial development.

However, the road to realizing this vision is fraught with challenges and issues, particularly regarding the feasibility and scalability of such advanced technology, especially given the historical difficulties associated with achieving controlled fusion. The relatively small amount of money raised also raises suspicions, given the typically high costs of fusion research and development. Furthermore, the technology’s broader applicability to terrestrial energy needs is a key issue in the context of the global energy crisis and climate change and remains an area of ​​speculation and debate.

To answer these and other questions, Dr. Setthivoine You conducted a detailed Q&A session that provided insight into the company’s strategy, Helicity Drive’s technology foundations, and the broader implications of their work in fusion technology. His answers shed light on Helicity Space’s approach and its potential impact on space travel and energy production on Earth.

In the following section, we dive into this Q&A session with Dr. You to explore the complexities and challenges of Helicity Space’s pioneering work in fusion propulsion.

Q&A with Dr. Setthivoine You

Question 1: How can $5 million fund any major project in Fusion drives?

Dr. You: “The scalability of our concept is key. This is similar to the impact of the number of cylinders on performance in an internal combustion engine. We can start small and use fewer plasma sources, allowing for initial testing with a modest level of investment. By By adding more plasma sources to scale up, we can incrementally improve the system’s performance. This phased approach helps manage costs efficiently while advancing technology development.”

Question 2: Considering it costs billions of dollars to achieve controlled fusion for just a few seconds on Earth, how are we on the verge of a scalable fusion drive in space?

Dr. You: “It is true that controlled fusion on Earth (such as tokamak devices) is expensive and complex. However, our approach is very different. We focus on space propulsion, whose requirements are different from those of terrestrial power plants” Our approach, pulsed magneto-inertial fusion, provides a more compact system suitable for space applications. While still challenging, we believe it can enable faster and more cost-effective development. “

Q3: If this technology is so promising, should it become widespread across the planet and attract major energy companies?

Dr. You: “While our fusion technology does hold promise for enabling Earth-based energy solutions, we must first gradually prove its feasibility. Our current focus is on proving space propulsion technology. Once this is achieved, we expect to map More interest and investment, including from energy companies, to enable wider adoption.”

Question 4: The focus on deep space exploration suggests the technology may not be suitable for Earth’s energy challenges, such as global warming. Can you comment on this?

Dr. You: “We believe that fusion energy has the potential to solve the problem of global warming. However, our current focus is on space propulsion. Fusion propulsion can indirectly benefit the earth by promoting extraterrestrial mining and industry, reducing terrestrial resource consumption and ecological impact and contribute to our environmental goals. Ultimately, we see our technology playing an important role in space exploration and a sustainable future for our planet.”

Helicity Space is backed by a team of strategic advisors including prominent NASA figures, underscoring the company’s ambition and potential in space exploration and propulsion.

Helicity Space’s recent seed funding marks a critical moment in the pursuit of fusion-powered space propulsion. While the challenges are daunting, the company’s innovative approach and its phased development strategy offer an interesting path forward for space exploration and addressing Earth’s future energy needs.

Learn about Helicity Space’s Helicity driver technology

1. Plectonemic plasma jet for confinement

What is plasma?

Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter, distinguished from solids, liquids and gases. It consists of hot ionized gas containing equal numbers of positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons.

plasma jet
The term “plectonemic” refers to the twisted or spiral structure of the plasma flow. In the context of Helicity Drive, plasma jets are used for plasma confinement. This means keeping the plasma stable and contained within a specific area. The spiral nature of these jets helps stabilize the plasma, which is crucial for sustained fusion reactions. This approach is innovative because it exploits the inherent properties of the plasma to maintain stability, potentially reducing the need for complex external containment systems.

2. Magnetic reconnection heating

magnetic reconnection

This is the process by which magnetic field lines from different magnetic domains are forced together, broken, and reconnected. This phenomenon is common in solar flares and the Earth’s magnetosphere. During the magnetic reconnection process, a large amount of magnetic energy is converted into kinetic energy, thermal energy and particle acceleration.

Applications in Fusion
In the Helicity Drive, magnetic reconnection is used as a method to heat the plasma. The intense heat generated by the reconnection raises the plasma to the extremely high temperatures required for fusion reactions. This process is critical because the high temperatures required to achieve fusion are one of the most challenging aspects of fusion technology.

3. Peristaltic magnetic compression increases energy density

creeping magnetic compression

The term draws an analogy with peristalsis, a process that occurs in biological organisms in which muscles contract and relax to move materials through a path, such as food through the esophagus. In the Helicity Drive, a similar concept is applied, using magnetic fields to compress the plasma. The magnetic field is manipulated by “squeezing” the plasma, thereby increasing its density and temperature.

Increase fusion energy density
Higher energy density is critical to achieving the conditions required for fusion. It involves squeezing a plasma so that atomic nuclei are close enough to overcome electrostatic repulsion and fuse together. This compression method is innovative because it aims to achieve the plasma conditions required for fusion in a more controlled and efficient way.

Impact on space propulsion

Combining these three technologies, Helicity Space envisions creating a scalable fusion propulsion engine. The fusion reaction produced by this technology will provide a high thrust-to-weight ratio and is significantly more efficient than current chemical rocket engines. This efficiency will enable faster travel times and make deep space missions more feasible. Additionally, the use of fusion propulsion will lead to reusable and more fuel-efficient space travel, which is critical for long-term exploration and potential colonization efforts.

The Helicity Drive’s unique blend of plasma physics and magnetic technology represents a novel approach to space propulsion. By solving key challenges such as plasma confinement, heating and increasing energy density, Helicity Space is at the forefront of developing significant leaps in space exploration technology.

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