Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion Technologies (B01)

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 516238647

Electric propulsion systems that use the residual atmosphere as propellant represent a key technology for the exploitation of VLEO. In this project, Helicon-mode Inductive Plasma Thrusters (IPT/HPT) and potential alternative concepts are investigated. The use of IPT/HPT as an electrode/gridless concept circumvents the problem of degradation due to exposure to atomic oxygen. The project will experimentally gain a deeper understanding of propellant trapping, ionization, and plasma acceleration.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1667: Advancing Technologies of Very Low Altitude Satellites (ATLAS)
• Major Instrumentation: High Sensitivity Camera
• Applicant Institution: Universität Stuttgart
• Project Head: Professor Dr.-Ing. Georg Herdrich