Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ATHENA-Pi (ATHENA-Pi: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND MARKET INTRODUCTION)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-03-31
To date, around 340 picosatellites have been launched into Space. Particularly, the pocketqube class launches are experiencing an unprecedented growth; around 70 have been launched only this last year, 2022. This increasing trend is motivated by the extremely low cost of manufacturing and launching these satellites, which, together with their increase of functionalities thanks due to the miniaturization of multiple technologies, has become an attractive business opportunity for several IoT companies. However, these small satellites are lacking one of the most critical enabling technologies: adequate on-board propulsion solutions. The extremely limited volume, mass, and power available in these platforms represents a huge challenge for propulsion providers. This project aims to pave the way to commercialization of ATHENA-pi, the first electric propulsion system for picosatellites.
In response to the perceived market need, ienai SPACE is developing ATHENA, a novel on-board Electric Propulsion (EP) product which combines a hardware system based on “electrospray” thruster technology (simple, highly efficient and scalable) and ienai GO and ienai 360, a software suite for mission analysis. The ATHENA thruster is an innovative electric thruster among other micro-propulsion options in the EP family (which, compared to classical chemical propulsion solutions, are attractive due to the exponential reduction of propellant mass and volume, of critical importance in smaller satellites). Most thrusters are based on existing (plasma based) technologies which have been scaled to lower power with mostly disappointing results, typically entailing sizable losses in efficiency; furthermore, existing thrusters are optimized for very specific operation points, limiting their use within different mission scenarios. By contrast, ATHENA can operate at very low variable power (1-40W, with applications up to 100W), while retaining high efficiency (over 50%, 3-4 times better than competing EP technologies) and may be arbitrarily scaled to higher powers if needed; this is done, primarily, through a modular approach, which allows for the selection of the number of individual thruster modules, also providing the system with redundancy. In addition, they offer a compact form factor and lower complexity (no pressurized vessels, valves, cathodes, high intensity magnets/coils or high-frequency electronics), which is expected to translate into ease of integration, lower costs and significant reductions in dry mass. The thruster uses pre-loaded, non-toxic and low-cost propellants and has a negligible thermal footprint. We consider that, with respect to driving forces in the market, electrospray thrusters are uniquely suited for micro-propulsion.
The first MVP of the ATHENA thruster is currently undergoing the last stages of technology readiness before flight. Dubbed ATHENA-π, it is a pico-satellite version of the thruster with 1W of input power, 30uN of thrust, 56% total efficiency and enough propellant do deliver 350h of firing. Flight qualification in ground was carried out throughout Q4 2021 and we reached orbit in Q4 2022, demonstrating the capability to extend mission lifetime in pico-satellites. The first experimental flight of the system is a critical milestone on the road to commercialization, since flight qualification is a “must” in the space industry.
The main objectives of this project is to take ATHENA-π from a flight qualification campaign carried out in October 2022 to a commercial success, including the initial scale-up industrialization efforts and supporting financial structure. An overall deliverable will be an evaluation report describing how the funding and the mentoring and coaching supported the company and the woman leader; to be delivered at end of project.
In response to the perceived market need, ienai SPACE is developing ATHENA, a novel on-board Electric Propulsion (EP) product which combines a hardware system based on “electrospray” thruster technology (simple, highly efficient and scalable) and ienai GO and ienai 360, a software suite for mission analysis. The ATHENA thruster is an innovative electric thruster among other micro-propulsion options in the EP family (which, compared to classical chemical propulsion solutions, are attractive due to the exponential reduction of propellant mass and volume, of critical importance in smaller satellites). Most thrusters are based on existing (plasma based) technologies which have been scaled to lower power with mostly disappointing results, typically entailing sizable losses in efficiency; furthermore, existing thrusters are optimized for very specific operation points, limiting their use within different mission scenarios. By contrast, ATHENA can operate at very low variable power (1-40W, with applications up to 100W), while retaining high efficiency (over 50%, 3-4 times better than competing EP technologies) and may be arbitrarily scaled to higher powers if needed; this is done, primarily, through a modular approach, which allows for the selection of the number of individual thruster modules, also providing the system with redundancy. In addition, they offer a compact form factor and lower complexity (no pressurized vessels, valves, cathodes, high intensity magnets/coils or high-frequency electronics), which is expected to translate into ease of integration, lower costs and significant reductions in dry mass. The thruster uses pre-loaded, non-toxic and low-cost propellants and has a negligible thermal footprint. We consider that, with respect to driving forces in the market, electrospray thrusters are uniquely suited for micro-propulsion.
The first MVP of the ATHENA thruster is currently undergoing the last stages of technology readiness before flight. Dubbed ATHENA-π, it is a pico-satellite version of the thruster with 1W of input power, 30uN of thrust, 56% total efficiency and enough propellant do deliver 350h of firing. Flight qualification in ground was carried out throughout Q4 2021 and we reached orbit in Q4 2022, demonstrating the capability to extend mission lifetime in pico-satellites. The first experimental flight of the system is a critical milestone on the road to commercialization, since flight qualification is a “must” in the space industry.
The main objectives of this project is to take ATHENA-π from a flight qualification campaign carried out in October 2022 to a commercial success, including the initial scale-up industrialization efforts and supporting financial structure. An overall deliverable will be an evaluation report describing how the funding and the mentoring and coaching supported the company and the woman leader; to be delivered at end of project.
The activities performed during the project were divided in three main blocks:
1. To quantify the pico-satellite market further from the already received existing companies; to map out potential clients and their adoption and demand of on-board propulsion. Based on this, to update the business plan with regards to specific strategies for the pico-satellite class market. We have performed a pico-satellite in-depth study analyzing the different companies worldwide building picosatellites for commercial applications, created a survey for picosatellie companies to further understand their propulsion needs and updated the business plan in order to assess the results from the market analysis.
2. To validate the technology from an industrial perspective, including validation of fabrication partners and processes (internal and external) from the perspective of Product Assurance and Quality Assurance. To take the first steps towards establishing an industrial plan for production of ATHENA. To establish a correct financial supporting strategy and structure, including preparation of Series A throughout 2022 to support the industrial efforts moving forward. A fabrication production line has been established validating the relationships with the different partners and an extense DATA ROOM for Series A investment round has been created.
3. To establish a business development roadmap and strategy for commercialization of a pico-satellite class ATHENA thruster, including marketing channels, revenue strategies, etc. To carry out initial commercialization efforts based on the roadmap. A Customer Relationship Management Tool has been created, and letters of support, as well as two RFQ for ATHENA-π have been obtained.
1. To quantify the pico-satellite market further from the already received existing companies; to map out potential clients and their adoption and demand of on-board propulsion. Based on this, to update the business plan with regards to specific strategies for the pico-satellite class market. We have performed a pico-satellite in-depth study analyzing the different companies worldwide building picosatellites for commercial applications, created a survey for picosatellie companies to further understand their propulsion needs and updated the business plan in order to assess the results from the market analysis.
2. To validate the technology from an industrial perspective, including validation of fabrication partners and processes (internal and external) from the perspective of Product Assurance and Quality Assurance. To take the first steps towards establishing an industrial plan for production of ATHENA. To establish a correct financial supporting strategy and structure, including preparation of Series A throughout 2022 to support the industrial efforts moving forward. A fabrication production line has been established validating the relationships with the different partners and an extense DATA ROOM for Series A investment round has been created.
3. To establish a business development roadmap and strategy for commercialization of a pico-satellite class ATHENA thruster, including marketing channels, revenue strategies, etc. To carry out initial commercialization efforts based on the roadmap. A Customer Relationship Management Tool has been created, and letters of support, as well as two RFQ for ATHENA-π have been obtained.
ienai SPACE expects to be a large player in the space mobility market, by working towards the role of a propulsion system “fleet manager”: we expect to manage day to day operations in our clients’ propulsive phases for the nano- and pico-satellite class and, possibly, as many other propulsion systems from other providers. In order to adopt this role, the first propulsion systems must be marketed and the handling of operations automatized as much as possible, based on first-hand experience of client operations gathered during the initial commercial phase. As such, the activities in this Women TechEU project supported this initial phase by focusing on the validation and first scaling activities of our ATHENA- π thruster and initial commercialization efforts; these activities have set a precedent for any future versions of ATHENA, scaled to the nano-satellite class or beyond, to micro-satellites (10-100kg in mass) with many learning opportunities along the way, and has allowed us to understand more deeply how to approach clients and how to work with them during the entire end-to-end process, from preliminary design to mission operations.
To ensure further success, various in-orbit demonstrators of ATHENA-pi must be performed, to be able to provide statistical success rate to our clients, since during the project this has shown to be key for commercialization.
To ensure further success, various in-orbit demonstrators of ATHENA-pi must be performed, to be able to provide statistical success rate to our clients, since during the project this has shown to be key for commercialization.