Equatorial Space: How a Southeast Asian Startup Aims to Revolutionize Space Travel

EcoAero had the opportunity to speak with Simon Gwozdz, CEO and founder of Equatorial Space, a company dedicated to advancing the frontier of aerospace technology. Gwozdz, inspired by aerospace developments and his connections to aviation through his father, a pilot, was particularly influenced by the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 1 during his high school years, this pivotal moment led him to pursue his passion in university, culminating in the establishment of Equatorial Space with the ambition to innovate within the sector.

Equatorial Space distinguishes itself by developing eco-friendly hybrid propulsion technologies that offer a safer and more affordable alternative to traditional rocket launches. Their innovative approach involves using non-toxic propellants that significantly reduce the environmental impact commonly associated with rocket propellants. 

Their propellant is a hybrid propulsion with a combination of the Company’s proprietary polymer-based solid fuel and liquid oxidizer such as nitrous oxide and high-test peroxide (HTP). Compared to the conventional rocket propellant of such as  kerosene and liquid oxygen, this propellant is expected to produce less greenhouse gas. 

As Gwozdz explains, hybrids have been explored on an academic level for nearly a century, however the performance limitations of typical solid fuel choices rendered them unable to compete in commercial space launch – a feat that the Company hopes to change with its proprietary fuel composition it calls the HRF-1.

One considerable advantage of a hybrid is separation of the fuel and oxidizer into distinct states of matter, vastly reducing the explosive equivalence compared to fully-liquid and fully-solid systems which may experience accidental activation, and produce vast explosions in case of catastrophic failures.

In case of hybrids – he adds – the combustion only happens at a thin layer between the solid fuel and the liquid oxidizer that traverses the opening, or ‘port’, within the solid fuel, and can be snuffed out should the rate of oxidizer flow exceed the limits that the fuel may sustain, forming a failsafe effect.

Equatorial Space was founded in Singapore in 2017 and currently has operations in the city-state as well as Australia and the United States – a place where Simon sees a bright future due to its mature ecosystem and vast launch infrastructure.

The spotlight of this company is that Equatorial Space is the first commercial rocket company in the Southeast Asia region. However, they faced many challenges, one being that space launches are very regulated and there are many things to worry about. Additionally, the space industry is growing, and new startups and competitors are facing challenges.

Looking forward into the future, Equatorial Space plans to develop reusable rockets similar to those in Rocket Lab or SpaceX. However, they plan to be better by providing for MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) beyond LEO (Low Earth Orbit) as means to carve out a market niche,” according to Simon. 

Their longer-term aspirations is to support a greater-scale space tourism, unlike many current companies that suffer from overreliance on government contracts.

After asking Simon what he feels will be the future of advanced propulsion technologies, he believes nuclear thermal and nuclear propulsion underscores its vision for the future of space exploration beyond launch. 

He also believes that we should not only fulfill the increasing demand for satellite deployment but also set the stage for revolutionary advancements in human space travel and interplanetary exploration.

Image courtesy of Equatorial Space, used with permission.