Traditional satellite propulsion, such as high pressure systems or inflammable propulsion, is often expensive and require considerable care. The alternative, developed by the French startup ThrustMe which uses solid iodine as fuel - has just proved itself by going into space via a Chinese rocket on November 3rd 2019.
This launch was organized thanks to the collaboration of ThrustMe, a producct of the Laboratoire de physique des plasmas (LPP, an UMR CNRS, X, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Sud, Sorbonne Université), with the Chinese company Spacety. In less than a year, starting from the original idea, the two partners set up a space mission which shows both the reactivity of ThrustMe and the importance of open ended international collaborations, of which they furnish an outstanding example.
A new kind of propulsion
Known as I2T5, this quite unique cold unpressurised gas unit, uses solid iodine as the propergol. Designed for the Cubesats, l’I2T5 will contribute to the life of space industry, by lengthening the lifetime of satellite missions and enabling one to manoever so as to avoid collisions. In the future, the other iodine based electrical propulsion systems derived from ThrustMe will also enable one to change orbits, to coordinate satellite constellations and to maintain a given orbit. This solution, Cette viable solution, which is certain and low cost, has already interested new clients such as the Royal Thaï Air Force and Montpellier University.
From the laboratory to space
This first space demonstration of iodine propulsion in space highlights the significant impact that startups can have for innovatilon and technological advances. Ane Aanesland, co-founder and Director General of ThrustMe notes that this idea - the use of iodine to replace gas such as xenon under pressure - was born at the LPP in 2008. This first launch was greeted by Pascal Chabert, CNRS Director of the LPP : "I am proud and extremely happy to be at the first ever launch of a satellite using the system of the startup ThrustMe ! We have come along way since the arrival of Ane at the LPP and our first scientific results ! This success reinforces my belief that there is a natural and healthy continuity between fundamental research and technological innovation".
