The unexpected Birmingham link to NASA’s first crewed return to the Moon in more than 50 years

SteamJet Space Systems is providing the propulsion unit for the CubeSat mission part of Artemis II, reports Insider Media.

Developed by South Korea's NaraSpace, the CubeSat will be deployed into a highly elliptical orbit, where SteamJet’s water-based thruster will play a critical role in ensuring mission success.

Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the celestial body for science and exploration through Artemis.

"Our participation in a mission that is part of NASA's Artemis II programme is a major milestone for our team," said Marco Pavan, chief executive of SteamJet Space Systems. "This milestone validates our technology as both sustainable and capable of handling complex space environments.

"It's proof that CubeSats and Small Satellites no longer need to compromise on performance to stay green and compact."