helicity-space

Overview

Helicity Space (Pasadena, CA) — founded 2018. $12.3M total funding. Co-founders: Stephane Lintner (CEO, former Goldman Sachs MD, PhD applied math Caltech), Setthivoine You (Chief Scientist, PhD plasma physics Imperial College London), Marta Calvo (former Boeing-Rocketdyne executive). Technology: 'Helicity Drive' — magneto-inertial fusion with 'self-organized Taylor relaxation and magnetic reconnection physics coupled with a peristaltic magnetic compression scheme.' Uses multiple plasma guns to create fusion conditions. 'Done it with two guns' — testing with four plasma guns. 'No need to wait for terrestrial fusion power to begin using fusion propulsion in space.' 'Fusion produces ten million times more energy per unit mass of fuel' vs chemical. CRITICAL: Lockheed Martin Ventures invested in Helicity Space in April 2024 — despite 'cancelling' the CFR in 2020. 'Many things need to be worked out but they're at an interesting phase' (Lockheed Moran). 'They are combining plasma guns to create an intense plasma with the level of heating required to create a fusion-type result.' Helicity sees Lockheed Martin as 'a potential long-term customer.' Other investors: Airbus Ventures, Voyager Space Holdings. The magnetic reconnection physics is the SAME physics that underlies the CFR's high-beta cusp confinement and the '3D turbulent magnetic reconnection' in the orb platform.

Entity Type: Organization — Helicity Space operates as an institutional actor in the defense/aerospace ecosystem.

Network Relationships

Helicity Space connects to 8 entities in the intelligence network:

Events (1):

• → Skunk Works® CFR Program: Same magnetic reconnection physics as CFR — Lockheed invested despite 'cancellation'

Organisations (3):

• → Limitless Space Institute: LSI partner (fusion propulsion)
• → DOE: NIAC 2025 award
• → Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®: Lockheed Martin Ventures invested April 2024 — 'potential long-term customer'

Persons (2):

• ← Setthivoine You: Chief Scientist and Co-Founder — Helicity Drive inventor
• ← Paul Bellan: Bellan advisor to Helicity — 1979 paper is basis of Helicity Drive compression scheme

Programs (2):

• → MARAUDER: Plasma guns = compact toroid projection — MARAUDER lineage
• ← LM Ventures Portfolio: Invested in Helicity Space fusion propulsion (April 2024)

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 4 source documents:

• SpaceNews — 'Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in Helicity Space' (April 2, 2024)
• SpaceNews — 'Helicity Space raises $5 million' (December 11, 2023)
• TechCrunch — 'Helicity Space raises $5M' (December 11, 2023)
• helicityspace.com — Technology page