The Electric Propulsion Innovation & Competitiveness 2.0 (EPIC2) project aims to complete the activities initiated by the project EPIC (640199) in line with the objectives of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 (5.iii. Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies - Space) provisions in the frame of the Programme Support Activity (PSA), for the implementation of the Electric Propulsion technology Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) in Horizon 2020. The PSA consortium will ensure the coordination and necessary exchange of information and knowledge between the different SRC Operational Grants within the Electric Propulsion SRC by providing: • Assessment of the various activities and results of the respective SRC Operational Grants in support to REA. • Update of the master plan, as needed, to coordinate all the activities for the duration of the respective SRC Operational Grants. • Identification of the activities required to address the challenge of the respective topics. • Coherence of actions

The project GLOCS3 (GLObally Competitive Space Systems Support) aims to provide the appropriate support and coordination for the European space systems supply chain stakeholders consultations and all other relevant activities supporting the initial setup and proper execution of the Globally Competitive Space Systems co-programmed Partnership (GSSC, or 'the Partnership'), and providing material support for the initial setup and operations of the private sector stakeholder association (SPACE AISBL) and its founding members. GLOCS3 will create the conditions and provide the resources to establish and implement coordinated consultation processes enabling the European space supply chain stakeholder communities to express their views and enable them to configure the inputs that the project will provide to the European Commission and related institutional stakeholders in the framework of the Partnership. The overarching goal of the project is to enable the European Commission, via the Partnership, to gather a consolidated and consensual opinion from the space supply chain stakeholder communities with a view to configure the contents of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025-2027 and plan its R&I strategy for the areas covered by the Partnership in consideration of the coordinated viewpoints of the stakeholders. The project will thus focus first and foremost on the organisation of suitable stakeholder consultation processes, adapted to the areas of the consultations and the domains concerned by the partnership. The project will also support the key reporting requirements of SPACE AISBL towards the Partnership, notably the elaboration of the additional activities periodic reports.

CHEOPS proposes to develop three different Hall Effect Thruster electric propulsion systems: a dual mode EPS for GEO applications, a low power for LEO applications and a >20 kW high thrust EPS for exploration applications. Each of these will be developed according to market needs and drivers applying incremental technology changes to existing EPS products. The development approach will follow the ESA ECSS approach and the dual mode and low power are targeting a System PDR review with 42 months from the project start. Development will cover the following elements: thruster, cathode, PPU and FMS. The project is perfectly aligned to the SRC guidelines published with the call. Through a detailed development plan the project will demonstrate their ability to achieve by the end of CHEOPS Phase II (2023) the following: a) TRL7-8 for dual mode and low power b) high power HET EPS TRL6. Common transverse activities will include advanced numerical design tools for electric propulsion which will further the understanding of the observable behaviour and interactions with the satellite platform and predict performances of a given design. This includes alternative propellants and the ability to estimate the system lifetime. Finally significant progress will be made in establishing a HET performances measurement standard and developing advanced non-intrusive tests for measuring thruster erosion. The CHEOPS consortium is led by SNECMA and is comprised of representatives of the biggest European Prime satellite makers, the full EPS supply chain and supported by academia.

To prepare future large satellite missions, replace obsolete networks or introduce new on-board technological advances, Europe must offer to its satellite industry a competitive and highly reliable European dual mode Hall-effect Electric Propulsion System able to provide sufficient power to perform both orbit raising (7kW) and station keeping (3kW) duties. Based on CHEOPS Phase I results, CHEOPS MEDIUM POWER will perform incremental developments on system and sub-system levels in order to achieve TRL6/7 by 2025. CHEOPS MEDIUM POWER will further mature the different system elements (Thruster Unit, PPU, FMS) by addressing the following key challenges: non-recurring and recurring cost reduction in terms of design, manufacturing, test qualification and time to deliver, as well as propellent efficiency in order to increase valuable payload and generate revenues. These advancements will fit into a less than 10kg thruster working between 300 and 450V. CHEOPS MEDIUM POWER will deliver for the thruster unit an optimised design for a very high thrust and improved lifecycle durations. On an industrial level the project aims at reduced fabrication cycles, improved quality, leaner manufacture, faster assembly lead times, and improved tolerance management. The Power processing unit will be optimised by removing unnecessary functions and re-selecting cheaper key components with at least constant reliability levels. The project’s scope extends to FMS level where space qualifiable COTS will be used to provide maximum mission suitability for variable number of thrusters per satellite. CHEOPS MEDIUM POWER will have a medium-term impact on the European space industry and its overall competitiveness, but also on the satellite design and manufacturing paradigm in the long term.