Tenders Are Invited For Low-Power, High-Thrust Electric Propulsion System For Space Transportation - Expro Plus

Tenders are invited for Low-Power, High-Thrust Electric Propulsion System for Space Transportation - Expro plus To initiate the development of a low-power, high-thrust electric propulsion system for space transportation.DescriptionCurrently, non-European providers offer in-space transportation services using a vehicle designedto deliver payloads with mass upto 750kg and delta-V capability up to 2 km/s This vehicle uses amicrowave electrothermal thrusters (METs) system. European satellites manufacturers have alsostarted looking for technologies to enable space transportation and have identified low-power(<1kW) and high-thrust(>100mN) as the key features an Electric Propulsion system must have toexpand their in-orbit services from LEO to GEO and beyond.Conventional European electric propulsion thrusters, based on Hall Effect Thruster or Gridded IonEngines or HEMPT or FEEP or resistojet technology, are not capable to provide such performance.Meanwhile, microwave electrothermal thrusters (METs) seem to offer high thrust even below 1kW, with acceptable levels of specific impulse. METs are simple devices and, theoretically, able to operate with any type of propellant, including water vapour. Development effort on METs in Europe has been so far limited to basic proof of concept of the thruster technology (e.g.T519-701MP) Electrothermal cathode-less microwave thruster for small satellites) and have NOT addressedimportant system aspects.This activity aims at initiating the development of a European, compact, microwave electrothermalthrusters (MET) system. The MET system developed in this activity includes all its main constituents: thruster, its microwave generator and its fluidic management system. It is aimed at demonstrating measured thrust greater than 100 mN, with measured specific impulse greater than 600 seconds when operated at input power lower than 1kW. Design to cost and design formanufacturing is to be adopted to achieve low-cost, fast time-to-market and high production rate of the final product.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- System requirements definition- System design definition and justification- Equipment prototype manufacturing and stand-alone testing. This applies to a thruster, amicrowave generator and a fluidic management system- System integration and in vacuum coupling test for demonstration- System in vacuum endurance test of, as minimum, 300 hours of continuous thrusteroperation, including relevant number of ON/OFF cycles- Roadmap to flight readiness including ground qualification to be performed in specific follow uptechnology development. Tender Link : https://esastar-publication-ext.sso.esa.int/ESATenderActions/filter/open