First Thrusters had been successfully demonstrated in orbit in January 2018!
More than 100 emitters have been tested and an ongoing lifetime test has demonstrated more than 18.000 hours of firing without degradation of the emitter performance. The IFM Nano Thruster is a mature technology, developed under ESA contracts for 15 years. Disclaimer: satsearch is not responsible for any mistakes on this page, although we do our best to ensure correctness. a plume diagnostics system is designed and used to characterise the plume of the IFM Nano Thruster. ENPULSION is Driving Your Advance – Feel free to contact us! The IFM Nano Thruster addresses the urgent need of a propulsion system for micro- and nano-satellites: its wide range of thrust (1μN to 1mN), the excellent throttlability, and a high specific impulse (up to 5000 s), allow to significantly increase the mission range of such satellites in low orbits. The IFM Nano Thruster, which consists of a porous tungsten crown ion-emitter to provide thrust in the range of 10 µN to 1 mN at 2000–5000 s ISP, has been tested on a µN thrust balance that has previously been verified at the ESA Propulsion Laboratories. Phone EU Office: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. More than 100 emitters have been tested and an ongoing lifetime test has demonstrated more than 18.000 hours of firing without degradation of the emitter performance. Availability: 16 weeks The PPU is able to measure and control this charge balancing electron current. The primary objectives for project IFM Nano are: The IFM Nano Thruster addresses the urgent need of a propulsion system for micro- and nano-satellites: its wide range of thrust (1μN to 1mN), the excellent throttlability, and a high specific impulse (up to 5000 s), allow to significantly increase the mission range of such satellites in low orbits. +43 2622 4170121

Derivatives of the IFM Nano Thruster are currently under development in a joint effort between FOTEC and Enpulsion. For 15 years, FOTEC has followed a technology push from ESA developing a FEEP propulsion technology for a precise orbit control of scientific satellites in formation flight. The thruster can be operated along the full dynamic range throughout the mission. The high Isp on the other hand allows for very high delta-v manoeuvres at a high propellant mass utilization efficiency (80%). The IFM Nano Thruster shall be able to survive typical loads expected during ground handling and LEOP. The combination of high Isp with medium very well controllable thrust levels in a small and light package makes the IFM Nano thruster a strong competitor for existing colloid, cold gas, or Hall effect thrusters. Boston, MA, 02108. While the required power to operate the IFM Nano Thruster starts at around 8 W, at higher thrust levels one can choose between high thrust and high specific impulse operation. At any given thrust point, higher isp operation will increase the total impulse, while it will also increase the power demand. Our company delivers innovative products of superb quality to great customers. AMR propulsion aims to solve these problem with a unique, modular product: the IFM Micro Thruster, a compact, modular propulsion system suitable for all small satellites ranging 1-500 kg, with the highest propellant efficiency, capable of controlling satellites’ position with an unprecedented accuracy, perfectly suitable for single CubeSats as well as for big constellations of satellites (>100). *I hereby accept to receive further information. Due to the efficient ionization process which allows one to ionize up to 60% of the evaporated Indium atoms, the IFM Nano Thruster can provide a higher specific impulse than any other ion propulsion system currently on the market. The thruster shall be able to operate, however, for at least a couple of years in a radiation environment typically expected in LEO. The central command and control module is connected to the independent power supplies for the heater, the two cathodes (two separate supplies), the emitter, and the extractor. Enpulsion's IFM Nano thruster has been developed and extensively tested in cooperation with the European Space Agency.

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter? A full characterization and test campaign including functional and environmental tests to verify the design’s specifications and its fitness to operate reliably in orbit. As of April 2020, there are 28 IFM Nano Thrusters on 9 spacecrafts in orbit with total deliveries exceeding 100 thrusters. Meanwhile, a successful in-orbit demonstration of the IFM Nano Thruster has taken place.
Electrically, the thruster is commanded via the spacecraft bus via I2C or UART. The IFM Nano Thruster is a mature technology, developed under ESA contracts for 15 years.