Applied Ion Systems (AIS) is an unconventional R&D startup dedicated to the development of ultra-low cost electric propulsion systems for Cubesats and PocketQubes. AIS prides itself on its unprecedented transparency, with a fully open-development approach, as well as developing the first open source Electric Propulsion (EP) systems in the field to help reduce the barrier of entry for nanosat and picosat teams, live build updates and thruster testing, as well as closely engaging enthusiasts, students, researchers, and startups in the aerospace field to actively develop and tailor and easy to use micro-EP systems at an order of magnitude less cost than conventional designs.

Founded in 2019, AIS has humble roots starting from a passion for making and exploring electric propulsion systems as a hobby, rapidly gaining support in the community evolving into an unconventional true "garage" startup, where accessibility to propulsion for any nanosat and picosat team is at the core of its approach. Fully bootstrapped and currently funded through enthusiast donations and system sales, since its birth AIS has delivered several micro-EP solutions to teams and customers around the world, with three of the AIS-gPPT3-1C Micro Pulsed Plasma Thruster scheduled for launch 2021, and other system deliveries in the works.

AIS actively researches and develops a wide range of EP technologies, including Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPTs), ionic liquid electrospray, micro-Hall thrusters, gridded ion, Vacuum Arc Thrusters (VATs), etc., particularly specializing in extreme scaling and miniaturization of conventional propulsion technologies, including 0.5W micro-PPTs, 5-10W class micro-Hall thrusters, and micro hollow-cathode neutralizers. AIS is also pioneering development of the first commercial unpressurized sublimation-fed Adamantane fueled thrusters.