Argo Space, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers Robert, Ryan, and Kirby Carlisle, is developing a spacecraft infrastructure network that uses water for propulsion, cooling, and radiation shielding. Ars Technica reported that the company launched its inaugural demonstration mission, Navigator, in July on a Falcon 9 rideshare.
From Falcon 9 to Water-Propelled Spacecraft
The three brothers spent the Falcon 9 era launching, refurbishing, and selling rockets. When they left SpaceX to start their own enterprise in late 2022, they bypassed rocket manufacturing entirely to focus on spacecraft architecture.
Their foundational design choice relies on water. Robert Carlisle stated in an interview that the company based its entire operational model on the substance. Water is widely distributed across the Solar System and potentially harvestable on the Moon.
This resource strategy aims to establish a commercial transportation network connecting low-Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and the lunar surface. The network is intended to support affordable logistics operations such as satellite resupply, refueling, repair, and redeployment.
Water as Propellant, Coolant, and Shield
Argo Space integrates water across multiple primary systems rather than restricting its use to propulsion. The spacecraft utilizes water as both a coolant and a radiation shield.
Thermal management systems route water through components ranging from the thrusters to the avionics. This architecture increases the vehicle’s propellant mass fraction.
By using water for multiple functions, the spacecraft dedicates more mass capacity to propellant. That mass efficiency allows the vehicle to travel farther and execute more complex orbital maneuvers.
Using water locally sourced from space reduces the economic dependence on Earth-supplied propellants. Robert Carlisle noted that this water-based transportation model creates a commercial incentive and profit motive to harvest water from the Moon’s shallower gravity well.
Navigator Mission Solar Array Failure
The Navigator demonstration mission launched in July aboard a Falcon 9 rideshare to test the company’s hardware in orbit. Flight controllers established initial contact with the spacecraft after deployment.
However, one of the two rollout solar arrays failed to deploy. Mission controllers spent approximately half a day troubleshooting the hardware issue and collecting telemetry data regarding the spacecraft’s health.
The unyielding mechanical failure left the spacecraft in a power-negative state, causing its battery to drain continuously. The system lacked sufficient energy reserves to initiate testing of the water-based propulsion system.
