IAC 2026

BOOST at the 77th International Astronautical Congress

The BOOST project will be represented at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026), taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 5 to 9 October 2026. The Congress is one of the major annual events for the international space community, bringing together researchers, industry, institutions and space agencies from around the world. IAC 2026

Researchers from the University of Padova will contribute to the conference programme with two presentations related to the technological developments addressed within BOOST:

• R. Tan, F. Cescon, L. Tonon, L. A. Guerrero Flores, G. Pitacco, E. Meneghel, D. Pavarin, M. Magarotto, “Radio frequency cathode for iodine electric propulsion”, IAC-26,C4,6,8,x110589.
• F. Cescon, S. Di Fede, M. Manente, D. Pavarin, L. Tonon, R. Tan, M. Magarotto, “Interaction between the Plume of a Gridded Ion Thruster and Spacecraft Surfaces”, IAC-26-C4,5,7,x109194.

The contributions will provide an opportunity to present and discuss recent research activities on iodine electric propulsion, RF cathode development and thruster–spacecraft interaction with the wider international space community.

BOOST’s participation in IAC 2026 further supports the dissemination of project results and the exchange of knowledge with researchers and stakeholders working on next-generation electric propulsion technologies.