Orbion Space Technology

Formed in 2016 by co-founders Brad King and Dr. Jason Sommerville, Orbion Space Technology is a space-tech startup that develops electric propulsion systems for small satellites.

Orbion’s first-of-its-kind Hall-effect plasma thrusters allow companies to propel satellites into space that increase the value of images, are more affordable and reduce the rate of replacement launches.

The company’s humble beginnings took root in the Upper Peninsula town of Houghton, Michigan, at Michigan Technological University. Co-founders King and Sommerville worked on a research team together at the university and then were co-principals at another space company where they worked with defense and intelligence space customers. In 2016, King and Sommerville formed Orbion Space Technology – a company that has since grown and attracted the attention of other companies in the industry.

Getting a Jump Start

Orbion’s founders understood early on that to get Orbion off the ground, they would need access to further support and resources. Luckily, they had an entire ecosystem at their disposal, thanks to support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

With a business model still in concept form, Orbion turned to the MTEC SmartZone in Houghton. Funded by the MEDC, the MTEC SmartZone provided Orbion a wealth of business development support and resources to help the business build a foundation. The co-founders also tapped into the Tech Transfer Talent Network’s (T3N) Mentors-in-Residence program, also supported by the MEDC, where they worked with seasoned tech entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and venture creation programs.

Orbion and MEDC’s partnership paid off when the company took first place at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition (AMIC) in 2017, winning $100,000 from Invest Michigan, $250,000 from Ann Arbor SPARK, $100,000 from Invest Detroit and $50,000 from the AMIC grant for a grand total of $500,000.

“The support we’ve received from the MEDC — both financially and in the form of resources within the ecosystem — has been an invaluable contributor to our company’s achievements,” said CEO Brad King.

 By 2022, Orbion raised over $30 million in capital from regional, state and national investors through three rounds of financing. Orbion was also named Up-and-Coming Company of the Year by the Michigan Venture Capital Association at AMIC 2019 and in 2021 it won the MVCA Financing of the Year Award.

The Sky’s the Limit

In March 2026, York Space, a Denver-based satellite manufacturer, announced it would be acquiring Orbion to support its strategy of building “an integrated space ecosystem” and expanding its domestic production. The year prior, York Space purchased Michigan-based Atlas Space Operations as part of its growing satellite supply chain.

According to York Space, Orbion’s Hall-effect thrusters are already used on their spacecraft, supporting operational national security missions.

In a post on LinkedIn, Orbion shared, “Nearly ten years ago, Orbion set out to prove that electric propulsion could be built differently — manufactured for scale without compromising reliability. Today marks a defining milestone in that journey. By joining York Space Systems, we’re building on a partnership and amplifying our ability to support all missions and all customers: government, commercial, U.S. and international, whether they require 1 or 1,000 units. This moment belongs first and foremost to the Orbion team — the people whose grit, tenacity and belief in our mission brought us to this moment. We’re incredibly proud of what this team has built — and we’re just getting started.”

Every day, the MEDC is helping high-tech startups like Orbion Space Technology launch their products from ideation to commercialization. Learn more about the programs and services offered by the MEDC for high-tech startups and businesses.