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Green Reaction Control System (RCS)

Objective

The space industry, and specifically the satellite industry, has experienced a significant growth in the last 10 years. The satellite industry has more than doubled its revenues from $122 billion in 2007 to $261 billion in 2016. It is forecasted an increase even greater for the coming years due to the development of the smallsat business (satellites with weight<500 kg). Latest estimations predict 6.200 smallsats in orbit in the period 2017-2026. For orbital manoeuvring and attitude control, artificial satellites use Reaction Control Systems (RCSs) made up of small rocket engines (thrusters), propellant tanks, valves, etc. Normally RCSs use Hydrazine and Dinitrogen Tetroxide (NTO) as propellants. These are traditional proven rocketry propellants that are now under scrutiny as the space industry significantly grows. These propellants are hazardous for the human health and the environment. NTO is very toxic and corrosive, and hydrazine is toxic, carcinogenic and a mutagen. Besides, this toxicity makes them very expensive to transport and handle. Furthermore, they increase the satellite mass and volume significantly regarding other Eco propellants raising launch costs (average 720 k€). Therefore, there is an urgent need in the market backed up by governments and the EU to replace these propellants by green and safe ones. ECO-Thrust is a clean and safe plug & play RCS for satellites that consume hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) green propellant. H2O2 can be used as monopropellant or as oxidizer with green fuel (like Ethanol or bio Diesel) in bipropellant thrusters. H2O2 is not new for the rocketry industry having being used since 1930. However it has been commonly replaced by toxic propellants since the current catalyst systems for H2O2 entail technical issues and short service lives. Swiss Propulsion Laboratory is completing a new revolutionary catalyst that will solve some of these problems.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

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Coordinator

SPL SWISS PROPULSION LABORATORY GMBH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
WESTSTRASSE 69
4900 LANGENTHAL
Switzerland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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