# Electric Propulsion with Todd Bailey

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2025-08-22
- Length: 1h 30m
- Episode: 701
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/701-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey/

## Summary

Todd Bailey, who previously worked at Lockheed Martin, Astra, and Apollo Fusion, discusses his journey into electric propulsion and the founding of Starlight Engines, which was recently acquired by Muon Space. He details the engineering challenges of designing a Hall effect thruster that uses solid zinc propellant instead of gas, focusing on the power processing unit and vaporization systems. Bailey reflects on his career transitions, the importance of rigorous requirements-driven design, and the business realities of building flight-ready hardware in the commercial space sector.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=0) Introduction: Todd Bailey and Career Overview
- [6:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=385) Lockheed Martin: Sonar, Requirements, and Engineering Rigor
- [23:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=1392) Astra: Commercial Space, Electric Turbo Pumps, and Failure
- [45:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=2748) Rocket Lab and Apollo Fusion: Transition to Electric Propulsion
- [1:05:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=3936) Founding Starlight Engines: Solid Zinc Propellant and Hall Effect Thrusters
- [1:26:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-22-electric-propulsion-with-todd-bailey#t=5181) Acquisition by Muon Space and Post-Exit Role

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Starlight Engines (company)
- Muon Space (company)
- Lockheed Martin (company)
- Astra (company)
- Rocket Lab (company)
- Apollo Fusion (company)
- Busick (company)
- Hall effect thruster (product)
- zinc (material)
- Xenon (material)
- Argon (material)
- GaN (chip)
- BJT (chip)
- planar transformer (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [247. NASA’s Electric Thruster That Could Take Us to Mars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-06-16-247-nasas-electric-thruster-that-could-take-us-to-mars) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [109. From Blastoff to Beyond: Ion Thrusters Pushing the Limits of Space Travel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-14-109-from-blastoff-to-beyond-ion-thrusters-pushing-the-limits-of-space-travel) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Don't Miss Season 2 of Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-01-16-dont-miss-season-2-of-moores-lobby) (Moore's Lobby)
- [179. 3D Printed Mini Thrusters For Space Travel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-06-18-179-3d-printed-mini-thrusters-for-space-travel) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [HIBT Lab! Ursa Major: Joe Laurienti](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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