µHETSat

An innovative compact electric propulsion system has recently completed its extended qualification firing tests campaign in space-representative vacuum and temperatures conditions, leaving it ready to be deployed aboard the ESA-supported µHETSat technology demonstration microsatellite mission, slated for launch by the end of this year. 

The approximately 70 kg µHETSat satellite used for this in-orbit demonstration will enable the thruster to raise and lower its orbit in a series of dedicated tests and in-orbit functional and performance verification campaigns over a planned two-year lifespan. Starting from an initial 550 km altitude orbit, the goal is to achieve at least 1000 ignition cycles and a single ignition to surpass 600 seconds.