Ongoing projects
IQM is developing and testing an electric propulsion thruster operating on CO₂, the dominant constituent of the Martian atmosphere. Built on the 2011 TransMIT experience operating RIT with alternative, Martian-like propellants, the project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of atmosphere-breathing EP systems for sustained Mars orbiters, including thruster design, representative test environments, and performance characterisation. Preliminary feasibility studies investigated target altitudes, atmospheric density, and composition, providing the basis for the first tests of a prototype thruster using Mars-like CO₂ mixtures.
IQM is leading the development of a cathodeless electric propulsion (EP) thruster under ESA funding, aimed at removing the need for external neutralisers in atmosphere-breathing systems. The goal is to design, manufacture, and test a prototype thruster capable of stable operation with Earth's atmospheric gases (N₂/O₂ mixtures), achieving at least 50% electrical efficiency and a minimum specific impulse of 4200 s. This activity builds on feasibility studies and technology trade-offs carried out at IQM, which identified the most promising concepts for cathodeless EP operation in reactive, oxygen-rich environments. A prototype is now under construction, with testing planned in vacuum facilities capable of reproducing Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) conditions.
Within the ESA HENON mission, TransMIT GmbH provided consultancy and supported the design updates, modelling, and experimental characterisation of the RIT3.5-DN3.4 Radiofrequency Ion Thruster, the core electric propulsion unit of the HENON 12-U CubeSat. This work extended TransMIT’s long-term expertise in compact, gridded ion propulsion systems, focusing on miniaturisation, RF discharge stability, and ion-optics optimisation for CubeSat-scale deep-space applications. The results achieved within HENON underpin the development of scalable RF ion propulsion for future European small-satellite missions and demonstrate the technological continuity from M-ARGO toward upcoming ESA planetary defence demonstrators, such as HENON and SATIS.
IQM provided technical consulting to MarsSpace Ltd. in the development of a propulsion system based on the RIT-3.5 ion engine for ESA’s Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM). Building on IQM’s expertise in radio-frequency gridded ion thrusters and variable-Isp ion optics, the collaboration focused on adapting the RIT-3.5 for the mission’s stringent drag-compensation and precision-thrust requirements. The work included system modelling, ion-optics optimisation, and experimental validation of low-thrust, high-stability operation within the expected orbit conditions. Through this cooperation, IQM supported the industrialisation and qualification of the RIT-3.5 engine, ensuring its compliance with ESA mission standards and advancing its readiness for future high-accuracy geodesy missions under the FutureEO programme.