Development of an innovative Mini Helicon Thruster (MHT) thruster suitable for small satellites

Project Information

MHT

Grant agreement ID: 782814

DOI

10.3030/782814

Project closed

EC signature date 11 July 2017

Start date 1 August 2017

End date 31 January 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Space

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

TECHNOLOGY FOR PROPULSION AND INNOVATION SPA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MHT (Development of an innovative Mini Helicon Thruster (MHT) thruster suitable for small satellites)

Reporting period: 2017-08-01 to 2018-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The space scenario is in revolution. New low cost constellations of mini satellite will be ready to provide full real time earth multi spectrum coverage. This will open new horizons of opportunity based on real time (7/7 24H) earth coverage. Few examples are: as calamity monitoring, fire monitoring, ground-air-sea traffic control, broad band internet coverage all over the earth, water monitoring, traffic control, criminal activity monitoring and prevention. Thanks to cooperative behavior small platform will also be able to achieve resolution currently possible only through big expensive satellite. Low cost will also allow state of the art technology to fly much soon than in the past, thus further fostering new applications and services. To unchain their huge potential mini satellites, need to operate in precise orbits, thus they require a dedicated propulsion unit with cost compatible with the economic budget of the whole satellite platform.
Overall objective of MHT program is to develop a new, low cost propulsion unit, specifically designed to empower small satellites.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The action objective was to consolidate a preliminary business plan of a disruptive propulsion solution, consisting in an innovative low cost electric propulsion system (Mini Helicon Thruster, MHT). Starting from the 10 years’ work on helicon technology which resulted in the realization of a laboratory prototype of the innovative thruster, the team deeply investigated all the steps to reach the successful commercialization of a complete module answering the market desires and opening new business frontiers thanks to its performances at low costs.
The main customers, the small satellite platform manufacturing companies, confirmed their interest and would like to be updated on the technological development status in order to discuss commercial agreements after the product qualification. Today these companies are defining the product technical requirements together with T4i team. The propulsive unit development program has been updated after a deep market analysis and competitors’ assessment; starting with the satellite manufacturers requests for design and passing through the environmental tests of a Qualification Model, the development plan ends with an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission of a Flight Model necessary to prove the product reliability in space and enter the space market. Non recurring and recurring costs have been identified, from the first units to mass production, together with the investments to be put in place up to the industrialization of the product. The pricing strategy has then been refined, also thanks to the dialog with the future customers on their expectations. In the sales model different distribution channels were identified as direct sell with the satellite platform manufacturer or in partnership with other entities and with insertions in space online shops. The revenue model indicates the breakeven during the third year of activities. To summarize, the action result is that the innovative MHT has all the potential to be developed to the level of market maturity and requires additional funding in view of its commercialization. Finally, all the results achieved has been embedded in a business plan.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

A new innovative propulsion system was designed into details achieving a detailed cost breakdown and a robust evaluation of the market and a business plan was implemented. After this preliminary study we concluded that the thruster product has an high innovative potential having very good chance of being one of the major player in the future market.
Costs estimation showed that a system 30% less-costly respect to state-of the-art-competitor can be developed, and margin exist to go further.
After this investigation we believe MHT has the right chances to support the ongoing revolution into space allowing new satellite to provide a wide, currently impossible, services to people.

Image of MHT thruster