BOOST was presented at EUROAVIA Forlì-Bologna's Lustrum event, highlighting our advancements in iodine propulsion for SmallSats, including modular thrusters and on-orbit refueling innovations.
Date: 13 APRIL 2024 from 9:00 to 18:30
We are pleased to announce that the BOOST project was presented at the Lustrum event organized by EUROAVIA Forlì-Bologna. This event, held on April 13th, marked the fifth anniversary of EUROAVIA Forlì-Bologna and brought together space enthusiasts and aspiring aerospace professionals for a day filled with insightful roundtable discussions and conferences.
During this event, Prof. Fabrizio Ponti had the opportunity to present the BOOST project in a roundtable session dedicated to innovative propulsion technologies. This session provided a platform to share the objectives, methodologies, and potential impacts of BOOST with a diverse audience of students and professionals.
BOOST (Building blOcks for iOdine thruSTers), funded by the European Union (GA-101135216), aims to advance iodine electric propulsion technology as a key enabler for the SmallSat market. The presentation highlighted the project's efforts to address the current challenges in the space propulsion field, such as the limited supply and high cost of traditional propellants like xenon.
Prof. Ponti discussed the development of modular components tailored for various types of thrusters, including Grid Ion Thrusters (GIT) and Hall Effect Thrusters (HET), and the introduction of a rechargeable iodine tank for on-orbit refueling. These innovations are designed to enhance mission sustainability, reduce costs, and promote the standardization and industrialization of iodine-based electric propulsion systems.
The Lustrum event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with the aerospace community, exchange ideas on the future of space exploration, and explore cutting-edge technologies. We are grateful to EUROAVIA Forlì-Bologna for organizing this event and for the chance to present BOOST to such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience.