Introducing Zenno
The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the number of space launches and objects now in orbit around our planet. New Astronautics businesses are disrupting away from traditional business models and modes of operations, whilst taking on the industry’s growing challenges of sustainability and cost management.
Zenno’s pioneering technology uses superconducting magnets as its core transformational technology. This powerful advancement is lighter and lower in mass than existing solutions, enabling new approaches to satellite design and reducing the cost of ownership. It is fuel-free, which reduces launch costs, enables high productivity missions and allows for smarter design to enhance mission capability.
Who are Zenno
Zenno was formed in 2017, when founder Max Arshavsky was studying Engineering at the University of Auckland, home to Aotearoa New Zealand’s first programme for Space Systems.
Max and his team identified the huge opportunity that superconductors and magnetic field generation would have on the space operations and started to explore within a corner of an industry that peaked in the 1960s.
Today, Zenno is the only company in the world focused purely on high temperature superconducting magnets for a range of space applications. Their first product, the Z01 for spacecraft attitude control or ‘pointing’ was part of the 2023 "Korea 425" mission hosted by D-Orbit, launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Zenno are gearing up to make the Z01 commercially available and are exploring other game changing ways that their novel technology can be utilised for the benefit of the space sector.
Benefits to the innovation ecosystem
Zenno’s globally patented core technology enables customers to improve their existing capabilities and scale to previously unobtainable levels of power. This enables satellite manufactures and operators to operate in new ways and develop other follow-on technologies.
The company’s laser focus on space-rated superconducting magnets has created dedicated facilities and equipment not seen anywhere else, along with an impressive knowledge base within the team. This specialisation lets the company respond to requests for assistance in very short timeframes, helping collaborators innovate more rapidly.
Inevitably Zenno’s highly efficient and self-contained superconducting systems in space will almost certainly result in interest for non-space applications.
What the panel had to say about Zenno:
The team presented a compelling breakthrough for the use of superconducting magnets for magnetic field generation in space, that presents clear commercial feasibility and viability.
The traction that the applicant has achieved to date is encouraging, with substantial sales in the pipeline for their innovation.
Zenno will have a significant impact on the innovation ecosystem, and the burgeoning New Zealand space industry in particular.
How Zenno will be investing their grant
Zenno will be rapidly commercialising their core product and bringing it to the US, European and Asia marketplace. Part of this effort means relaunching the product into space to earn additional space flight heritage. The team is also upgrading their facilities to better support the co-design required for their customers. Zenno has the nation’s only dedicated space superconductor facility and a resource eventually available for collaborators.
Ongoing work will be undertaken to further refine the Z01 product, along with increasing the legal, regulatory and IP protection efforts required for a cutting-edge commercial technology that’s being launched into space.
“Zenno as a company exists to build for life in space, for the space ecosystem and exploration to thrive and become truly sustainable. We're delighted to have received the Ārohia grant, this valuable support will help us accelerate our progress and to build a truly exceptional business from Aotearoa.”
Max Arshavsky, Zenno, CEO & Founder
Z01, the world's first superconducting magnetic torquer for spacecraft attitude control
Zenno
Founded: 2017
Sector/industry: Astronautics
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