Balerion Principal Aidan Daoussis sits down with Daniel Pérez Grande, CEO & Co-Founder of IENAI Space, to discuss small-satellite mobility. IENAI Space is developing modular electrospray thrusters for small spacecraft, alongside software for mission design and propulsion-system selection. Its integrated approach extends from preflight analysis through automated orbital maneuvering, with the goal of reducing propellant mass and simplifying satellite operations.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 – Introduction and IENAI Space’s end-to-end mobility model
02:46 – Founder backgrounds and the propulsion gap for small satellites
06:05 – Athena’s modular electrospray architecture
07:41 – Athena Pico, Nano, and Micro product specifications
11:29 – Electric propulsion compared with chemical propulsion
15:20 – The satellite market’s shift toward larger spacecraft
20:05 – Constellations, VLEO operations, and asteroid applications
24:33 – High-power, nuclear-electric, and nuclear-thermal propulsion
30:14 – Building a space company in Spain and European funding constraints
33:24 – Company growth, test infrastructure, and orbital demonstrations
37:29 – 360 mission-analysis software and propulsion trade studies
43:00 – Orbital automation, digital twins, and autonomous maneuver planning
46:13 – Mobility, collision avoidance, debris, and future regulation
48:46 – Closing perspective on reliable, low-burden propulsion systems
