World’s first zinc Hall-effect thruster fires in space on its maiden attempt

Muon Space successfully fired a zinc-powered Hall-effect thruster in orbit for the first time on July 1, marking a major step forward for satellite propulsion. Unlike traditional thrusters that use pressurized xenon or krypton gas, Muon's Starlight system uses solid zinc, which is cheaper, safer to store, and easier to integrate into spacecraft. The test confirmed real-world performance matched ground predictions, and a customer-ready version is expected before the end of 2026.