The consortium proposes an innovative activity to develop, build and test to TRL5 the first European Plug and Play Gridded Ion Engine Standardised Electric Propulsion Platform (GIESEPP) to operate Airbus Safran Launchers and QinetiQ Space ion engines. These are the only European ion engines in the 200-700W (LEO) and 5kW (GEO) domains that are space-proven, and the consortium’s intention will be to improve European competitiveness and to maintain and secure the European non-dependence in this field. The project will design and develop a standardised electric propulsion platform for 200-700W and 5kW applications, which has the capability to run either Airbus Safran Launchers or QinetiQ thrusters. In addition, the 5kW electric propulsion system will be designed to allow clustering for 20kW EPS for space transportation, exploration and interplanetary missions. In order to cope with challenging mission scenarios, Dual Mode functionality of the thrusters will be realised. This ensures that the beneficial high Isp characteristics of Gridded Ion Engines are maintained, whilst also offering a competitive higher thrust mode. The GIESEPP systems will not be limited to xenon as an operating medium; assessments will be performed to ensure functionality with alternative propellants. The approach to system standardisation and the resulting solutions will provide highly cost competitive and innovative EPS for current and future satellite markets, whilst meeting the cost efficiency requirements. The proposal will describe the roadmap to higher TRL by 2023-2024, providing a cost competitive EPS. Finally, the proposal will address efficient exploitation of the results, demonstrating how the activity will positively increase the impact and prospects for European Ion Engines and the European Electric Propulsion System community.

The objective of DEEP-PPU project is to develop and introduce to the market a disruptive Power Processing Unit (PPU) for Electrical Propulsion Gridded Ion Thrusters. This solution will stand out with its outstanding 40% mass and 35% volume reduction compared to the existing solutions on the market, while reducing the cost of the unit by a factor of two. The DEEP PPU project will strengthen the EU's space sector competitiveness in the international market, while securing the autonomy of supply for critical technologies and equipment. The target PPU will be achieved through the use ground-breaking technologies in space, namely Gallium Nitride semiconductors and Commercial Off-The-Shelf components, together with the implementation of custom design of power magnetics, the integration of the Radio Frequency Generation module and the synergies with previous developments in the frame of GIESEPP (Gridded Ion Engine Standardised Electric Propulsion Platforms). A multidisciplinary team of entities across Europe has been set, providing the right background and expertise to perform the required activities. The proposed PPU product fits the HORIZON-CL4-2022-SPACE-01-12 topic (Technologies and generic building blocks for Electrical Propulsion), specifically addressing the second area of this topic “R&I on electrical power architecture and related components (Power Processing Unit, direct drive, etc.)”.

VEGAS proposes to address the key challenge of European non-dependence and competitivness regarding rad-hard FPGA for space applications. VEGAS will evaluate (following ESCC rules) and validate the first rad-hard FPGA in 65nm to directly compete with the US offering and reach TRL 7. The VEGAS project sets clear and measurable main objectives to reach a TRL 7 from TRL 5 (end of BRAVE project) as follows: 1. Validation by end users of rad-hard FPGA developped under the BRAVE project – TRL 6 achieved 2. Space evaluation of the first rad-hard FPGA developped under the BRAVE project – TRL 7 achieved 3. Software CAD tools improvement by including timing and SEE mitigation tools VEGAS will complement the ongoing ESA funded BRAVE project. BRAVE covers all hardware and software development to reach a first prototype of NG-FPGA-MEDIUM (30k LUTs) and NG-FPGA-LARGE (130k LUTs) . VEGAS will cover all required steps to ESCC evaluate / validate the BRAVE NG-FPGA-MEDIUM and NG-FPGA-LARGE prototype and add additional software tools to reach a competitive software offering.

High-power electric propulsion technology is needed to enable the sustainable realisation of emerging market applications such as On-Orbit Servicing, in-space cloud computing, debris removal and cis-lunar infrastructure. However, relevant technologies, in terms of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and performance, are not yet available. The commercialisation of new markets requires more scalable and flexible propulsion solutions. Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) thrusters are a robust, efficient, and scalable Electric Propulsion technology, especially suited for high-power operations thanks to their high thrust levels and power densities. These benefits have motivated their widespread research since the 1960s. The main development limitations have been the thruster lifetime and flight readiness imposed by the use of conventional copper magnets for generating the applied field. These problems can be overcome with the use of High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS), which can provide the required magnetic field for AF-MPD operation in a compact and lightweight system. Under the leadership of NSS, a start-up commercialising HTS applications in space, SUPREME aims at increasing the flight proficiency of AFMPD by demonstrating the integration of HTS coils and all necessary supporting subsystems in a relevant environment, and the corresponding increase in thruster performance and lifetime. SUPREME also aims to validate the commercialisation potential of the technology by generating a well-defined business model for achieving sustainable revenues and upscaling of production. The consortium is completed by 2 RIs, an innovative SME, and an OEM. On the academic side, both USTUTT and UT are institutes working at the forefront of disruptive R&D in the key areas of EP, space cryogenics, and HTS systems. PEAK represent a key part of the supply chain for propellant tanks, and Airbus’ will contribute as both a supplier and potential first adopter of the technology.

The consortium proposes to continue the activity started under COMPET-3-2016-a to develop, build and test to TRL6/7 the first European Plug and Play Gridded Ion Engine Standardised Electric Propul-sion Platform (GIESEPP) to operate ArianeGroup ion engines with option of alternative thrusters, for a medium power application. The consortium’s intention will be • to reach a TRL6/7 of the medium power system with at least partial qualification to allow flight readiness • to improve European competiveness in this field by + optimising industrialisation both on thruster unit and EPS level + increasing the GIE systems production capacities + significantly reducing the recurring costs • and to maintain and secure the European non-dependence on this crucial technological field. The project will significantly advance design and development of this standardised electric propulsion platform for GEO (and MEO) applications: - In order to cope with challenging mission scenarios, dual mode functionality of the thrusters will be realised. This ensures that the beneficial high ISP characteristics of Gridded Ion Engines are maintained, whilst also offering a competitive higher thrust mode - Activities will be covered not only by the competence of expersts in their respective fields but also by the use of advanced Engineering Models (EM), respectively Qualification Models (EQM) - The GIESEPP systems will not be limited to xenon as an operating medium; assessment will be performed to ensure functionality with alternative propellants - The proposal will describe the roadmap to higher TRL beyond 2023/2024, providing a cost competitive EPS that will meet the highest standards for an industrialised, rapid production process - The anticipated business case is targeted for long term exploitation up to 2030 strengthening Europe s technological and economical competitiveness in a very fast changing market environment