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French startup demonstrates iodine propulsion in potential boost for space debris mitigation efforts - SpaceNews

French startup demonstrates iodine propulsion in potential boost for space debris mitigation efforts - SpaceNews

French startup demonstrates iodine propulsion in potential boost for space debris mitigation efforts - SpaceNews
Jan 22, 2021 54 secs

HELSINKI — French startup ThrustMe has performed the first on-orbit tests of an innovative iodine-fueled electric propulsion system, proving its ability to change a CubeSat’s orbit.

ThrustMe’s NPT30-I2-1U, the first iodine electric propulsion system sent into space, is aboard the Beihangkongshi-1, a 12U CubeSat developed by Chinese commercial satellite maker Spacety. .

A Long March 6 rocket sent the satellite into orbit in November, tagging along with a batch of satellites for Argentina-based remote sensing firm Satellogic.

The firms says the results prove iodine to be a viable propellant for electric propulsion systems and mark a step towards commercialization of the system. .

It allows a small satellite to lower its altitude, reducing its time in orbit, seeing the satellite burn up on reentry into Earth’s atmosphere and helping reduce space debris in lower Earth orbit.

The European Space Agency estimates that there are 34,000 debris objects greater than 10 centimeters in size and 900,000 pieces from between 1 to 10 centimeters in orbit as of January 2021.

The first one coming up in 2021 is a national space agency mission that we will announce later,” Aanesland said. .

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