Highlighting sustainable and disruptive propellants for the future of space mobility.
Date: 11 APRIL 2025
Type: Workshop
On April 11, 2025, the BOOST project was presented during the workshop “Nuovi materiali e nuove tecniche di propulsione tra meccanica e spazio” ("New Materials and Propulsion Techniques Between Mechanics and Space"), held at the Teaching Hub of the University of Bologna – Forlì Campus. The event brought together stakeholders from academia, industry, and public institutions to discuss emerging technologies and training strategies in the mechatronics and aerospace sectors.
Prof. Fabrizio Ponti, coordinator of the BOOST project, contributed with an invited talk focusing on innovative propulsion systems for aviation and space applications. The presentation highlighted the growing relevance of alternative propellants and introduced two cutting-edge European research initiatives:
BOOST, which explores the use of iodine as a high-efficiency, storable, and cost-effective propellant for electric propulsion in space.
WET (Water-based Electric Thrusters), a recently launched project developing water-based propulsion systems aimed at enabling more sustainable and accessible space missions.
These projects exemplify how advanced research, supported by the Horizon Europe programme and coordinated collaboration across institutions, can unlock new possibilities for the future of space mobility.
The workshop, moderated by Lorenzo Ciapetti (Tecnopolo di Forlì-Cesena), also featured contributions from experts in advanced materials, satellite miniaturization, and training programmes for the aerospace supply chain – including the SMART.ER project, which promotes lifelong learning in innovative industrial fields.
BOOST’s participation in such initiatives reflects its mission to connect technological development with industrial application, while actively contributing to knowledge dissemination and stakeholder engagement across Europe.