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MEMS-Based Electric Micropropulsion for Small Spacecraft to Enable Robotic Space Exploration and Space Science
Start date:2010-12-01
End date:2013-11-30
Project Acronym:MICROTHRUST
Project status:Execution
Coordinator
| Organization name:ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE | |
| Administrative contact | Address |
|
Name:Herbert |
STATION 1 BATIMENT CE LAUSANNE SCHWEIZ/SUISSE/SVIZZERA Region:RÉGION LÉMANIQUE Vaud |
| Tel:+41-327-205584 | |
| Fax:+41-327-205754 | |
| E-mail:Contact | |
| URL:http://www.epfl.ch | Organization Type:Education |
Description
Objective:
Our MicroThrust proposal addresses the FP7 target for advanced in-space propulsion technologies for solar system exploration. This research provides a key component in facilitating exploration missions: a technology that can substantially reduce the cost of undertaking particular types of robotic exploration. Building on the framework of a successful ESA study, our team of leading academics, research institutions and space companies has developed a conceptual design of a very small, yet high performance electrical propulsion system. The conceptual design is based upon experimental data already obtained by team members. As a result we are confident that this system can provide the transportation element for taking nano/micro satellites to any location in the Earth-Moon system and will even allow missions to nearby planets and asteroids. The propulsion system will thus permit new exploration mission concepts. These missions due to their size will be developed within a fraction of the time for conventional missions. Their simplicity, perhaps even single instrument spacecraft, will reduce risk for carrying out the mission.
Overall this will dramatically reduce cost of individual missions, thus providing more flight opportunities for planetary scientists and planetary exploration. To achieve these goals the propulsion technology has high performance at low mass and low power demand. The propulsion system is a micro-fabricated colloid thruster having a high degree of subsystem integration. Our work so far has demonstrated the capability of this concept to have a radically reduced part set making substantial progress towards a thruster-on-a-chip. Our experienced team will take the technology through to the significant position of having tested and fully characterized a breadboard model. The design approach is that this is also a proto-flight model such that gaining the final step of a flight test for the hardware is low risk and low development cost.
Achievements:
General information:
Project Details
Start date:2010-12-01
End date:2013-11-30
Duration:36 months
Project Reference:263035
Project cost:2842535 EURO
Project Funding:1992906 EURO
Programme Acronym:
FP7-SPACE
Programme type:Seventh Framework Programme
Subprogramme Area:Space transportation for space exploration
Contract type:Collaborative project (generic)
URL:http://www.microthrust.net/
Subject index:Space & satellite research, Transport
Results for this Project
Other participants
| Organization name:QUEEN MARY AND WESTFIELD COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON | |
| Administrative contact | Address |
|
Name:John Paul Whitfield |
MILE END ROAD E1 4NS LONDON UNITED KINGDOM Region: |
| Tel:+44-2078828875 | |
| Fax:+44-2089831007 | |
| E-mail:Contact | |
| URL: | Organization Type:Education |
| Organization name:NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK - TNO | |
| Administrative contact | Address |
|
Name:Berry |
Schoemakerstraat 6060 DELFT NEDERLAND Region:ZUID-NEDERLAND LIMBURG (NL) Midden-Limburg |
| Tel:+31-152843367 | |
| Fax:+31-152843958 | |
| E-mail:Contact | |
| URL: | Organization Type: |
| Organization name:SYSTEMATIC DESIGN BV | |
| Administrative contact | Address |
|
Name:Richard |
motorenweg DELFT NEDERLAND Region:WEST-NEDERLAND ZUID-HOLLAND Delft en Westland |
| Tel:+31-152511100 | |
| Fax: | |
| E-mail:Contact | |
| URL:http://www.systematic.nl | Organization Type: |
| Organization name:NANOSPACE AB | |
| Administrative contact | Address |
|
Name:Tor-Arne |
SOLNA STRANDVAG 4207 SOLNA SVERIGE Region:SVERIGE STOCKHOLM |
| Tel:+46-704244101 | |
| Fax:+46-8987069 | |
| E-mail:Contact | |
| URL:http://www.nanospace.se | Organization Type: |
Record control number:96931
