"Spanish Propulsion Startup Secures Seed Funding for Growth"
Spanish startup Arkadia Space has raised $3 million in seed funding to expand its facilities and workforce in developing spacecraft thrusters that use green propellants. The funding round was led by Draper B1 and included participation from Expansion Ventures and several angel investors, including former Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque. Arkadia Space aims to market a small monopropellant thruster in 2024 and is emphasizing the use of non-toxic propellants as alternatives to hydrazine. The company was founded by former members of the propulsion team at PLD Space and has also received funding from the European Space Agency.