Argo Space schedules two water-propulsion tests for 2027
A startup founded by former SpaceX employees plans to demonstrate satellites that split water into hydrogen and oxygen for thrust, following a failed debut flight in July.
By Leah Thompson ·
Three former SpaceX engineers are preparing to launch two satellites in 2027 to test a propulsion system that uses water as its primary resource. The company, Argo Space, intends to demonstrate that spacecraft can generate thrust by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases in orbit, eliminating the need to carry separate liquid propellant tanks from Earth.
The Carlisle brothers founded Argo Space in late 2022 after working on the Falcon 9 rocket at SpaceX. Their goal is to build space infrastructure that reduces dependence on Earth-bound propellants by utilizing water, a resource available throughout the solar system. The proposed system uses solar power to break down liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen, which are then burned to create thrust.
Argo Space also plans to use water within its satellite designs as a coolant and a radiation shield. This multi-functional approach aims to simplify spacecraft architecture while leveraging a naturally occurring element. The company states that water is potentially harvestable on the Moon, further supporting the long-term viability of the technology.
The company's initial attempt to validate this technology did not meet its objectives. Argo Space flew its first mission in July 2026, but the spacecraft failed before it could fully test the propulsion system. The failure occurred because one of the solar arrays failed to deploy. This technical issue prevented the team from gathering the necessary data to confirm the water-splitting process in a real orbital environment.
With the first mission concluded, Argo Space has placed two additional flights on its schedule for 2027. These upcoming launches are designed specifically to demonstrate the water-based thrusters under operational conditions. The company seeks to prove that the system can reliably generate thrust using only a reservoir of liquid water and onboard solar power.
The development of water-fed propulsion represents a shift in how satellite operators might approach logistics for deep space or lunar missions. By using a resource that exists in various celestial bodies, spacecraft may require less mass dedicated to propellant storage. The 2027 missions will provide the first independent verification of this approach since the July failure.
