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“Electrospray” Technology: Palm-Sized Propulsion for Future Space Missions

ATHENA, a new electrospray propulsion system by ESA and IENAI Space, offers innovative, scalable propulsion for small satellites, with the final product expected by next year. A palm-sized propulsion option for future space missions: each one of these seven emitter arrays etched onto this silicon

ATHENA, developed by ESA and IENAI Space, uses tiny emitter arrays on a silicon wafer to provide scalable and efficient propulsion for small satellites like CubeSats. “Developing a new technology, which we have built from scratch, has been no easy feat, but we are confident that our propulsion products will stand out in the market for their incredible performance and customization capabilities; and in fact, we have already been approached by a number of interested parties in the industry.” The interaction between the surface tension of the liquid and the applied electrostatic field forms ions that can be sprayed out at very high speeds (on the order of 20km/s), creating the force to move the satellite.

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