HEStaff exchange2025–2028

WET · Water-based Electric Thrusters

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration: 2025-02-01 → 2028-01-31
EU contribution: €469,200
Participants: 9
Scheme: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

The WET project aims to establish water-electric propulsion technology as a standard choice for future space missions. Through a multifaceted approach, the project will address several interconnected aspects: (i) the architectural and conceptual design of a water-based electric thruster, (ii) feasibility analysis of converting the thruster's building blocks to water, focusing on neutralizers, (iii) assessment of water plasma cross-sections using theoretical and numerical approaches to enhance understanding of underlying physics, and (iv) feasibility analysis of a toolbox comprising diagnostic and measurement tools dedicated to water-based plasma, alongside upgrades to testing facilities to accommodate water thrusters. Targeting the 500 – 1000 W range, the project aims to cater to the SmallSats segment with flexibility for potential deep-space applications. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring mutual interactions between each aspect to establish a common knowledge base and lay the groundwork for future standardization. This sustainable approach will provide a catalyst for relevant follow-up activities. By the project's end, conceptual development of this technology is expected to reach TRL 2/3.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA · BolognaCoordinatorItaly
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE · RomaItaly
THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY · CANBERRAAustralia
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND · AucklandNew Zealand
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA · PadovaItaly
UNIVERSITE CHOUAIB DOUKKALI · EL JADIDAMorocco
UNIVERSITE INTERNATIONALE DE RABAT · Sala Al JadidaMorocco
UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART · StuttgartGermany

WET · Water-based Electric Thrusters

Project objective

Participants

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