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European Physical Society

The Plasma Physics Division of the European Physical Society is happy to announce that the 2022 EPS Plasma Physics Innovation Prize is awarded to: Dr Ane Aanesland, Dr Dmytro Rafalskyi and Javier Martínez Martínez for technological, industrial or societal applications of research in plasma physics. They successfully pioneered the use of iodine-fuelled plasma-based electric propulsion systems for satellites. Iodine is a transformative alternative propellant to xenon, has been recently demonstrated in orbit, and has the potential to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the space industry.

Maddyness

Le secteur de la SpaceTech ne compte que peu d’entrepreneuses ou de femmes à la tête d’instances clés. Maddyness a décidé de mettre à l’honneur six d’entre elles, dont les carrières sont en passe de marquer l’innovation dans le domaine spatial.

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.

Popular Mechanics

And it’s a good alternative to other expensive propellants like xenon and krypton. Here’s what you need to know.

L'Usine Nouvelle

À l’attaque du newspace. La deeptech tricolore Thrustme a récemment publié dans la prestigieuse revue « Nature » les résultats du premier vol en orbite de son moteur pour petits satellites fonctionnant à l’iode. Lancé en novembre 2020, il a permis de modifier à plusieurs reprises l’orbite d’un petit satellite de type cubesat, jusqu’à atteindre en six mois plus de 4 km de déplacements cumulés, contre 1,5 km espéré au départ.

The Riotact 

A Canberra-based physicist and engineer has played an important role in the world-first testing of a ground-breaking, iodine-fuelled electric satellite propulsion system.

ThrustMe principal engineer Dr Trevor Lafleur says in-orbit tests have confirmed iodine is a propellant that can provide small satellites with vital collision avoidance and deorbiting capabilities, as well as new manoeuvring and space exploration potential.