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

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