• Modern In-Space Propulsion

    • About

      What We Do

      Tesseract designs and builds spacecraft propulsion hardware. We supply off the shelf thrusters, which may be purchased individually, integrated into multi-thruster modules, or incorporated into a complete turn-key propulsion system as required.

       

      If you have unique requirements for your application, we can also supply custom design services and manufacturing.

      Safer, Low-Toxicity Propulsion

      We are committed to green propulsion. We firmly believe that high toxicity heritage propellants have no place in modern systems.

      Cost Consciousness

      We are focused on supplying products made with modern materials and manufacturing methods to control cost and provide maximum value to our customers.

      Quality and Reliability

      We understand that lowering the cost of mission critical hardware is meaningless unless the hardware works. We are committed to maintaining the high level of quality and reliability required of flight qualified aerospace hardware.

    • Products

      Lyra 1

      Green Bipropellant Rocket Thruster

      Thrust

       

      Specific Impulse

       

      Minimum Impulse Bit

       

      Mass

       

      1.0 N

      0.22 lbf

      2942 m/s

      300 s

      2.7×10⁻³ N·s

      6.0×10⁻⁴ lbf.s

      0.24 kg

      0.53 lbm

      Lyra 22

      Green Bipropellant Rocket Thruster

      Thrust

       

      Specific Impulse

       

      Minimum Impulse Bit

       

      Mass

       

      22 N

      5.0 lbf

      3040 m/s

      310 s

      0.11 N.s

      0.025 lbf.s

      0.59 kg

      1.3 lbm

      Rigel 450

      Green Bipropellant Rocket Engine

      Thrust

       

      Specific Impulse

       

      Minimum Impulse Bit

       

      Mass

       

      450 N

      100 lbf

      3207 m/s

      327 s

      17.8 N.s

      4.0 lbf.s

      3.5 kg

      7.7 lbm

    • Services

      Custom Green Turn-Key Systems

      Tesseract can supply custom turn-key spacecraft propulsion systems based on our existing green thrusters, but also including all propellant tankage, plumbing, control electronics, and ancillary structure.

      Bespoke Hardware Development

      Our team has experience with chemical propulsion across a range of thrust classes and propellant types, both storable and cryogenic. We can offer flexible options for licensing and ownership of the design intellectual property, and can provide either development only, or development and manufacturing options.

    • Team

      Erik Franks

      Chief Executive Officer

      Erik Franks is a veteran startup founder and space industry professional. He is a graduate of University of Texas at Austin and also earned a Masters in Space Studies from International Space University. He was ground operations lead for one of the prime contractors of DARPA's XS-1 reusable spaceplane program, and has extensive prior experience in technical program management and project oversight.

      Jeff Gibson

      Chief Operating Officer

      Jeff Gibson has a decade of experience in aerospace systems engineering. He first worked as a Senior Engineer at Goodrich corporation on multiple rapid development projects for precision guided munitions. In 2013, he joined Masten Space Systems as the Lead GNC Systems Engineer, where he also served as Technical Lead on the DARPA XS-1 program, and GNC/Avionics/Software Lead for Masten's effort on the NASA Lunar CATALYST program. Jeff was the pilot/operator for over a hundred VTVL rocket flights and static engine tests. He has extensive experience in design, simulation, integration, testing, and project leadership.

      Jake Teufert

      Chief Technology Officer

      Jake Teufert is an experienced professional in the field of propulsion and energetic devices. His prior experience includes a diversity of programs including the Space Shuttle, SLS, Ground-based Midcourse Defense, and DARPA’s XS-1. He has worked on flight qualified rocket propulsion systems ranging from pounds to tens of thousands of pounds.

    • Investment

      Accredited Investors

      If you are an accredited investor per SEC Regulation D Rule 501 please use the below Contact Us form.

      WeFunder Campaign

      If you do not meet the criteria to qualify as an accredited investor per SEC Regulation D Rule 501 but are still interested in investing, please visit our WeFunder campaign.