PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project proposes an innovative electric thrust system for satellites called “Modular Pulsed Propulsion System”, with the aim to develop a new propulsive unit, a pulsed magnetoplasmadynamic thruster (MPDT).
The principle behind this technology is to accelerate plasma with a magnetic field which is created by an electric discharge between two electrodes. This discharge has an energy of several Joules.
The main innovation of this technology lies in the pulsed operating of the thruster, which allows to modulate the thrust generated simply by controlling the frequency of the pulses.
The valve permits to inject just the amount of gas that will be ionized in the discharge chamber at each pulse, which allows to use our propellant efficiently. Indeed, the pulsed operation of this thruster implies low-power operation (200W) compared with other continuously operating MPDTs, which require power ratings of the order of hundreds of kilowatts.
This point is particularly interesting because it allows this technology to be integrated onto small satellites which have lower power available. The high life duration of this thruster (20 kNs of total impulse) represents an advantage to increase the mission duration for these satellites.
Another advantage of this technology is the possibility to use different propellants not limited to xenon or krypton, but also argon for example, which is much cheaper than the others.
The Consortium team consists of experts of space propulsion, space hardware development (especially MPDT) and plasma diagnosis or modelling. This consortium, led by Comat, is composed of the laboratories Laplace, Icare and IRS from University of Stuttgart, as well as the companies Plasmasolve and Endurosat.
At the end of this project, we plan to demonstrate the sustainability of this technology for small satellites by determining the efficiency of this thruster.
In the next few years, satellite electric propulsion will become an enabler for deployment of small sat constellation on orbital plans or next generation in-orbit servicing such as docking, spying, debris removal …
One technology/physics cannot meet all the needs. We propose a modular technology on which different building blocks can be connected. These building blocks are based on different principles to convert electrical power into impulse thrust.
We have already developed the Plasma Jet Pack thruster building blocks (see plasmjetpack.com for details) which has been successfully qualified by COMAT with industrial and academic partners under the Horizon2020 Project entitled: Plasma Jet Pack (H2020 RIA - SPACE-13-TEC-2019 - SRC – In-Space electrical propulsion and station keeping).
Thanks to the MP2S project, our Consortium proposes now to add a Pulse Magneto Plasma Dynamic (P MPD) building blocks to complete the Modular Pulsed Propulsion System. This will be achieved through 5 main objectives:
1: Mature Pulsed MPD technology for smallsat in-orbit services application.
2: Develop innovative cathodes for Pulse MPD to improve thrust duration.
3: Develop and validate the Pulse MPD building block for the Modular Electric Propulsion Module.
4: Deploy an industrial strategy for competitive, sustainable and mass EU production.
5: Match our Modular Propulsion Module and In-Orbit services market needs.
COMAT
[ COMAT ]
France
Luc Herrero
EnduroSat
[ ENDUROSAT ]
BULGARIA
Vanya BUCHOVA
PlasmaSolve
[ PLASMASOLVE ]
CZECHIA
Adam OBRUSNIK
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
[ CNRS ]
France
Stéphane MAZOUFFRE
IRS - University of Stuttgart
[ USTUTT ]
Germany
Georg HERDRICH
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101135440. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
COMAT and EnduroSat will attend Space Tech Expo from 19 to 21 November 2024 in Bremen, Germany.
More info here:
https://www.spacetechexpo-europe.com/
COMAT and EnduroSat will attend the Small Satellite Conference in Logan, USA, from 3 to 8 August 2024.
COMAT, EnduroSat, PlasmaSolve, CNRS (Icare and Laplace labs) and the University of Stuttgart (Institute of Space Systems) attended the International Electric Propulsion Conference held in Toulouse, France, from 23 to 28 June 2024.
See COMAT's presentation "A “PLUG & PLAY” SYSTEM COMBINING VAT AND MPDT TECHNOLOGIES" in the "Documents" section of this website.
COMAT and EnduroSat attended the Small Satellites Systems and Services Symposium organised by ESA and CNES, from 27 to 31 May 2024 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
More info here:
COMAT, CNRS (Icare lab) and the University of Stuttgart (Institute of Space Systems) attended the Space Propulsion Conference from 20 to 23 May 2024 in Glasgow, UK.
See COMAT's presentation "A “PLUG & THRUST” SYSTEM COMBINING VAT AND MPDT TECHNOLOGIES" in the "Documents" section of this website
COMAT and EnduroSat attended this event devoted to the Next Evolution in SmallSats from 6 to 8 Feb 2024, in Moutain View, California.
Official KoM at COMAT's premises near Toulouse (France).