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The Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (3AF) recognizes outstanding achievements in aeronautics and astronautics. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the 3AF and the organizers for this recognition and a memorable ceremony. Congratulations to all the awardees for their exceptional contributions.

This award recognises ThrustMe's achievements in space propulsion, specifically highlighting the NPT30-I2, the first in-space demonstration of an iodine-fueled electric propulsion system. Today, the NPT30-I2 is under batch production at the ThrustMe manufacturing centre and delivered to customers all over the world!

Iodine, first recognised as a potential alternative to xenon more than two decades ago, has been the subject of several scientific studies. With ThrustMe's triumphant flight into orbit, iodine electric propulsion has gone from a mere theoretical possibility to a tangible and revolutionary reality.

With growing space industry demand, and the rise of satellite mega-constellations, a viable alternative to conventional xenon propellant is necessary to ensure a sustainable space industry. Today, Ane Aanesland, Dmytro Rafalskyi and Javier Martínez Martínez won the European Physical Society Plasma Physics Innovation Prize for the technological, industrial and societal applications of research in plasma physics through their pioneering development of iodine-fueled plasma-based electric propulsion systems for satellites.

Created in 2011, the Medal of Innovation honours exceptional research that led to striking technological, therapeutic, or social innovation, thereby enhancing French scientific research. The jury awards between one and five medals each year.

The French government and BPIfrance continues supporting our R&D, for which we are extremely grateful. With the I-NOV grant we will develop our innovative RF acceleration for neutralizer free gridded ion thrusters.

Au cours des dix dernières années, elles ont contribué à promouvoir le savoir-faire français haut de gamme et à porter haut les couleurs de la France dans des secteurs d’activité multiples. Ce rappel était non seulement utile mais nécessaire ne serait-ce que pour affirmer les valeurs et les objectifs de l’Excellence Française soutenus par des femmes de talent exerçant à des postes de responsabilité au plus haut niveau.