Project description
Ion propulsion system propelling small satellites become more mature
Numerous space tech companies are planning to launch swarms of small satellites over the coming years. Compared to their larger counterparts, small satellites reduce the cost of launching vehicles and the costs associated with construction. What is more, they could help establish global internet services and provide more accurate weather data. France-based company ThrustMe develops intelligent propulsion solutions that extend the satellite lifetime and optimise their capacity in orbit. The EU-funded EMBRACE project will focus on one of the company products – a fully integrated propulsion system based on gridded ion thruster technology. The aim is to bring the technology to a higher level of maturity, from the prototype state (TRL 6) to a complete and qualifiable system (TRL 8).
Objective
Emerging from Ecole polytechnique and CNRS, ThrustMe leverages more than 10 years of EU-supported applied research in satellites propulsion technology. ThrustMe has developed a unique miniaturized propulsion system, based on a patented technology, combining ion propulsion with techniques used in semiconductor industry. EMBRACE aims at delivering the first industrialized ion thruster available providing high performance mobility for small satellites. EMBRACE will make possible a sustainable space industry by closing new space business models and mitigating space debris for all space actors.
EMBRACE ambition is to transform a very promising TRL6 proof of concept, supported by the community and future clients, into an industrialized TRL8 system ready to address its first targets, then all satellites markets sub-segments. With more than 10 000 small satellites expected to be launched within the next decade, the new space industry needs, on a very short term, high-preforming propulsion systems to extend mission capabilities and lifetime! Traditional propulsion systems cannot be re-engineered to deliver such performances for the cost-capped high-batch-production new space paradigm.
To succeed, ThrustMe has put together a team of recognized scientists, engineers, and confirmed business talents, backed by a renowned advisory board. The company holds exclusive rights on key patents and know-how. In 2017, it has secured funding through a seed round of €1.7M.
EMBRACE specific objectives are to prepare for an international market access, validate design and functionalities, realize a test and qualification campaign, set up a pilot line for industrialization, implement dissemination and communication as well as management activities. EMBRACE will accelerate and leverage the commercialization of ThrustMe’s technology and ensure Europe worldwide leadership in a nascent competitive environment. ThrustMe plans to achieve a turnover of €38M with a market share of 15% in 2025.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
91370 Verrieres Le Buisson
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.