The rapid expansion of satellite constellations and the accumulation of debris in Low Earth Orbit can benefit from new propulsion solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and independent of onboard propellant. The E.T.COMPACT project, funded by the European Innovation Council in 2024, addresses this challenge by developing a Green-propulsion Mobility Module that merges electrodynamic tether technology with in-space solar energy harvesting. At the core of the system is the bare-photovoltaic tether, a deployable tape tether integrating tandem thin-film perovskite–CIGS solar cells. The bare-photovoltaic tether enables both electron collection for Lorentz-force propulsion and direct solar power generation, eliminating the need for conventional solar arrays. To sustain tether current, a high-performance Field Emission Cathode provides efficient electron emission, while a bidirectional Deployment Mechanism ensures safe reel-out and reel-in, enabling dynamic tether length management. In this R&D project, the miniaturization limits of electrodynamic tether technology are explored to assess their potential use on deorbiting, orbit raising, reboosting, and station-keeping. . Building on the heritage of previous EIC-funded projects (E.T.PACK and E.T.PACK-F) on electrdynamic tethers, E.T.COMPACT shifts the focus to miniaturization and multifunctionality, with the goal of creating a low-cost and scalable subsystem tailored to small satellite constellations. The goal of E.T.COMPACT is to reach TRL 4 through ground demonstrations of tether deployment, field emission cathode performance, and bare-photovoltaic Tether energy harvesting. These achievements lay the foundation for future in-orbit demonstrations and subsequent commercialization by the E.T.COMPACT’s partner PERSEI Space, aiming to contribute to a sustainable, propellant-free space mobility. This paper introduces the system architecture, describes the project innovations, and summarizes performance simulations, highlighting the disruptive potential of solar-electrodynamic propulsion for next-generation space applications.
HARVESTING SOLAR ENERGY FOR PROPULSION: A BREAKTHROUGH IN GREEN MOBILITY FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS
Andrea Valmorbida
;Alice Brunello;Marco Ghedin;
2025
Abstract
The rapid expansion of satellite constellations and the accumulation of debris in Low Earth Orbit can benefit from new propulsion solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and independent of onboard propellant. The E.T.COMPACT project, funded by the European Innovation Council in 2024, addresses this challenge by developing a Green-propulsion Mobility Module that merges electrodynamic tether technology with in-space solar energy harvesting. At the core of the system is the bare-photovoltaic tether, a deployable tape tether integrating tandem thin-film perovskite–CIGS solar cells. The bare-photovoltaic tether enables both electron collection for Lorentz-force propulsion and direct solar power generation, eliminating the need for conventional solar arrays. To sustain tether current, a high-performance Field Emission Cathode provides efficient electron emission, while a bidirectional Deployment Mechanism ensures safe reel-out and reel-in, enabling dynamic tether length management. In this R&D project, the miniaturization limits of electrodynamic tether technology are explored to assess their potential use on deorbiting, orbit raising, reboosting, and station-keeping. . Building on the heritage of previous EIC-funded projects (E.T.PACK and E.T.PACK-F) on electrdynamic tethers, E.T.COMPACT shifts the focus to miniaturization and multifunctionality, with the goal of creating a low-cost and scalable subsystem tailored to small satellite constellations. The goal of E.T.COMPACT is to reach TRL 4 through ground demonstrations of tether deployment, field emission cathode performance, and bare-photovoltaic Tether energy harvesting. These achievements lay the foundation for future in-orbit demonstrations and subsequent commercialization by the E.T.COMPACT’s partner PERSEI Space, aiming to contribute to a sustainable, propellant-free space mobility. This paper introduces the system architecture, describes the project innovations, and summarizes performance simulations, highlighting the disruptive potential of solar-electrodynamic propulsion for next-generation space applications.
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
