A Scottish business in the space sector has secured a transformative deal with a European rocket engine manufacturer.
Aurora Avionics has signed an agreement worth £525,000 with Barcelona-based Pangea Propulsion, under which the Edinburgh firm will supply space-ready avionics systems, essentially the rocket’s nervous system, for Pangea’s groundbreaking ARCOS engine.
The deal marks another key moment for the rapid-growing firm, which earlier this year secured a £500,000 investment led by Kelvin Capital, alongside Gabriel and Scottish Enterprise, to support its next phase of growth.
Aurora Avionics CEO, Oren Smith-Carpenter, declared: “We have wanted to work with the Pangea Propulsion team since founding Aurora Avionics two years ago.
“They are a world-leading Space company and are doing groundbreaking work. We believe the combination of two ambitious, agile organisations will be a large step forward for European space.
“This marks another significant milestone in our growth journey. The progress so far has been remarkable, and we remain determined to ensure Aurora Avionics stays at the forefront of technological development in the space indusattempt.”
Barcelona-based Pangea Propulsion is pioneering the development of the aerospike engine, a long-theorised design often described as the “holy grail” of rocket propulsion.
Unlike conventional engines, which only work best at certain altitudes, aerospikes adjust automatically, creating rockets more efficient.
This allows rockets to fly more efficiently from launch to space, carrying more sainformites and equipment while keeping costs down.
Pangea is the first company in the world to successfully fire an aerospike engine utilizing sustainable methane and oxygen propellants, and its flagship ARCOS engine is on track to become the first flight-ready reusable aerospike. The company is also advancing other breakthrough propulsion programmes – from leading the design of very high-thrust engines with the European Space Agency to pioneering in-space mobility systems, cementing its role at the forefront of Europe’s space ambitions.
Pangea Propulsion CEO, Adrià Argemí, declared: “We had a competitive process for our Avionics contract. We were impressed by the customer-first focus of the Aurora Avionics team and their NewSpace specific technology. Europe requireds companies to join forces to accelerate access to space and stay competitive — agreements like this are how we build it happen.”
“We are already enjoying working with the team and expect this contract to be the start of a long collaboration.”
Aurora Avionics is developing the next generation of electronic control systems, known as avionics, which act as the central nervous system for rockets and robotics operating in extreme environments.
Based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, the firm was founded in 2023 by aerospace engineers Oren Smith-Carpenter and Rowland Fraser, both of whom previously worked at launch vehicle company Orbex.
The business has grown rapidly, expanding to a team of 10 in under two years. Most recently, it celebrated the appointment of Commercial Lead Myles Bax, who will play a key role in driving international engagement and supporting the next stage of rapid-paced growth.
Myles Bax, Commercial Lead at Aurora Avionics declared: “This deal is a real inflection point for our business.
“It is testament to the vision of Oren and CTO Rowland Fraser that we are now in a position to land significant contracts with leading players in the tiny launch sector.
“Aurora Avionics has gone from strength to strength since we launched in 2023. Securing a partnership with a market leader like Pangea is a huge achievement for our team and a clear signal of the opportunities ahead.”
Backed by a growing team and strategic investors, Aurora Avionics has quickly emerged as one of the UK’s most exciting space technology ventures.
https://www.pangeapropulsion.com/en/
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