This project proposes to develop a new electric propulsion module technology based on vacuum arc physics. This concept presents the advantage of storing propellant as a solid metal, largely reducing the complexity of the propulsion module and operational constraints both on-ground and in-orbit. The removal of in-orbit constraints (small impulse bit, no preheating, large total impulse) paves the way for new propulsion applications and satellite missions such as in-flight formation, electric propulsion pointing, and continuous accurate attitude control. The consortium aims at achieving validation (qualification level) and commercialisation of this propulsion module technology. The team consists of experts from space propulsion, space hardware development, and vacuum arc physics. The project develops and validates building blocks for a family of products with scaling performance in thrust, total impulse, and specific impulse. The first part of the project focuses on the development and qualification of building blocks: Arc Discharge Chamber (ADC), Plasma Generator Unit (PGU), and Power Propulsion Supply and Control Unit (PPSCU). The second part focuses on the PJP0-30 module with full development through an Electrical Model and a Qualification Model, concluding with testing and a validation flight. The Plasma Jet Pack is a pulsed electrical thruster that uses solid metallic propellant. The main function of this product is to ensure orbit manoeuvres of nanosatellites by generating thrust. The PJP provides flexibility for missions including orbit rising, station keeping, orbital transfer, de-orbiting & re-entry, in-flight formation, docking, and in-flight inspection. On demand, PJP ejects high-speed neutral metallic plasma into space, transferring momentum to the satellite. Pulse frequency can vary from 0 to f_max depending on thrust requirements. The vacuum arc thruster (VAT) physics allows erosion of solid metal propellant via electrical discharge in vacuum between two electrodes: the cathode (solid propellant) and the anode (passive electrode). It uses capacitive storage triggered by a High Voltage Trigger System (HVTS) to ignite the arc at lower voltage. PJP avoids disadvantages of gas-fed systems (tanks, valves, piping, neutralizers, grid erosion) while providing solid propellant with high specific impulse and high total impulse in a very compact volume without pre-heating or safety integration constraints. The H2020 project aims to advance PJP from TRL 4 to TRL 7. The Plasma Jet Pack is designed to improve the agility and flexibility of nano- and micro-satellite platforms by offering safe plug-and-play integration, compact volume, environmentally friendly propellant, and modular thrust without changing efficiency. Key technical objectives and challenges addressed by the consortium include: - Increasing the thrust-to-power ratio - Performing lifetime characterisation - Improving the robustness of the High Voltage Triggering System (HVTS) - Developing collaborative experimental thrusters for partner laboratories (ICARE, LAPLACE, and Universität der Bundeswehr München) to explore vacuum arc physics and magnetic field nozzle effects - Fully characterizing plasma parameters (ion charge, ionization level, electron temperature, ion velocity) to feed numerical plasma plume expansion simulations (PlasmaSolve) - Developing a predictive model to optimize the design of the commercial PJP product family. - COMAT (France) - Project Coordinator; Contact: Luc HERRERO - OHB SWEDEN AB (Sweden) - Contact: Ashley Hallock - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - ICARE & LAPLACE Laboratories (France) - Contact: Stéphane MAZOUFFRE - Universität der Bundeswehr München (Germany) - Contact: Jochen SCHEIN - Thales Alenia Space France SAS (France) - Contact: Philippe LAMOTTE - PlasmaSolve s.r.o. (Czechia) - Contact: Adam OBRUSNIK - Timeline: Start 01/01/2020 - End 30/04/2023 (100% completed) - Budget Allocation: 1.6 M€ - Effort: 182 person-months - Full Time Equivalent: 5 persons - April 2023: End of project newsletter published summarizing final technical achievements. - Autumn 2022: Work in progress newsletter released. - Summer 2022: Work in progress newsletter released. - Spring 2022: Quarterly progress newsletter released. - Winter 2022: Featuring Comat, CNRS Icare & Laplace, Bundeswehr University of Munich, and PlasmaSolve. - Autumn 2021: Progress report on experimental campaigns and simulation results. - Summer 2021: Progress updates from Comat, UniBw München, and PlasmaSolve. - June 2021: Details on PJP In-Orbit Demonstration / In-Orbit Verification (IOD/IOV) models. - May 2021: Breadboard testing and magnetic nozzle investigations. - April 2021: CNRS Icare, PlasmaSolve, and Comat progress reports. - March 2021: Update newsletter published. - February 2021: Progress updates from Comat, Bundeswehr University of Munich, and CNRS Icare. - January 2021: News from Comat and CNRS Icare. - December 2020: Monthly progress newsletter published. - November 2020: Updates on CNRS Icare & Laplace and Comat campaigns. - October 2020: Plasma plume expansion simulation results from PlasmaSolve and Comat. - September 2020: Work in progress report from Comat and CNRS Icare. - August 2020: Diagnostic campaigns at Comat, CNRS, and UniBw München. - July 2020: Testing of ring magnet configurations yielding a 35% thrust-to-power increase. First high-speed imaging of cathode spots at UniBw München. - June 2020: Technical partners received H2020 breadboard models. First pulse tests achieved in vacuum chamber at Bundeswehr University of Munich. Ion jet divergence diagnostics conducted at Comat. - May 2020: Functional tests completed on H2020 breadboard models. Magnetic nozzle thrust measurement showed a 17% thrust gain at 22 mT. - April 2020: Receipt of mechanical parts for experimental thrusters; simulation geometry integrated by PlasmaSolve. - March 2020: Theoretical and experimental study on cathodic material classification and HVTS ignition dynamics. - February 2020: Development of dedicated ion flux probe with LAPLACE/CNRS for ion velocity, current, and mass flow measurements. - January 2020: First endurance life test conducted at 3 Hz (14 W) achieving 1,264,436 pulses (117 hours) without failure on brass cathode. Project Kick-off Meeting held January 15, 2020 at COMAT in Flourens/Toulouse, followed by 1st Technical Meeting on January 16, 2020. - 2023-05-15: Final Meeting at COMAT premises in Flourens (Toulouse) taking stock of major project achievements; continuation of work initiated under the MP2S Horizon Europe project (http://mp2s.eu). - 2022-06-19: IEPC Conference 2022, Boston, USA - Presentations by COMAT, PlasmaSolve, and CNRS ICARE. - 2022-05-10: Space Propulsion 2022, Estoril, Portugal - Papers presented by COMAT, CNRS ICARE, and PlasmaSolve. - 2022-04-05: EPIC Workshop 2022, Cologne, Germany - Attended by COMAT. - 2021-09-08: 5th Workshop on Micropropulsion and CubeSats (On-line). - 2021-08-07: Small Satellite Conference 2021 (On-line). - 2021-03-19: Space Propulsion 2020+1 Conference (On-line). - 2021-03-05: 5th ESA CubeSat Industry Days (On-line). - 2021-02-25: 2nd Workshop on Propulsion4CubeSats (On-line). - 2021-02-25: Space Propulsion 2020+1 (On-line). - 2020-08-01: 34th Annual Small Satellite Conference (On-line). Public Deliverables: - Data Management Plan - Open Research Data Pilot - Website and press review Scientific Publications: - IEPC 2022: 'Generation of multiply charged ions' - IEPC 2022: 'Ion jet properties in a high current, short duration vacuum arc thruster' - IEPC 2022: 'Spatial and temporal evolution of ion and electron parameters in the plasma jet' - IEPC 2024: 'High-speed imaging of cathode spots in a Vacuum Arc Thruster' (IEPC-2024-291) - E. Michaux, J. Julien, S. Mazouffre (ICARE - CNRS) - IEPC 2024: 'Plasma characterization in a VAT plume by optical emission spectroscopy' - J. Quemeneur, M. Masquère, F. Valensi, P. Teulet, Y. Cressault (LAPLACE/CNRS/INPT/UPS), L. Herrero, T. Yung, A. Blanchet (COMAT) - JEP 2022: 'Ion Electron Parameters PJP' - MDPI 2023: 'Plasma Expansion Characterization' - EPIC 2023: 'Plasma Jet Pack overview' (Electric Propulsion International Conference 2023) - SP 2022: 'Evolution in time and space of ion and electron properties' - SP 2022: 'Plasma Jet Pack' - VACUUM 2023: 'Fractal dimension of cathode spots' This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870444. This website reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.