Impulse Transfer Thruster – Beam Shepherd for Active Debris Removal

Selected past projects

[2013–2017]

IQM developed the unprecedented Impulse Transfer Thruster (ITT), the gridded ion thruster with a centrally mounted cathode, tailored for ion beam shepherd missions in active debris removal. The capability of impulse transfer over long distances was experimentally verified, along with a unique set of performances characterised by remarkably low divergence (below 5 degrees) in both the near and far fields, which has never been demonstrated worldwide before. The alternative double-sided RF ion thruster design enables the generation of two counter-directed ion beams from a single device, providing contactless momentum transfer to space debris while balancing spacecraft thrust. Ground testing validated stable dual-beam operation and scalability of the concept for orbital debris removal and planetary defence applications.

Contract number: EU FP7 Project LEOSWEEP (Grant Agreement No. 607457), Improving Low Earth Orbit Security with Enhanced Electric Propulsion (2013–2017).
Key publications:
  • Smirnova, M., Smirnov, P., Kazakov, E., Dobkevicius, M., Mingo, A., Neumann, A., & Feili, D. (2025, September 14–19). Impulse Transfer Thruster – design, development and experimental characterization of the Radio-Frequency Ion Engine for contactless space debris removal (IEPC-2025-500). Paper presented at the 39th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. LINK PDF
  • Smirnova, M., Mingo Perez, A., Kazakov, E., Feili, D., Dobkevicius, M., Ruiz, M., Tejerina, P., Bombardelli, C., Merino, M., Cichocki, F., Ahedo, E. “Ion Beam Shepherd Mission LEOSWEEP: Mission Design to Ion Beam Thruster Testing.” Space Propulsion Conference, SP2016-3125249, Rome, Italy, 2016. PDF
  • Feili, D., Smirnova, M., Dobkevicius, M., Mingo Perez, A., Ruiz, M., Merino, M., Cichocki, F., Ahedo, E. “Impulse Transfer Thruster for an Ion Beam Shepherd Mission.” 30th ISTS, 34th IEPC and 6th NSAT Joint Conference, IEPC-382 / ISTS-2015-b-IEPC-382, Kobe-Hyogo, Japan, 2015. LINK PDF
  • Dobkevicius, M., Feili, D., Mueller, J. “Comprehensive Radio-Frequency Ion Thruster Electromagnetic and Thermal Modelling.” 30th ISTS, 34th IEPC and 6th NSAT Joint Conference, IEPC-2015-410 / ISTS-2015-b-410, Kobe-Hyogo, Japan, 2015. LINK PDF
  • Dobkevicius, M., Smirnova, M., M. Perez, A., & Feili, D. (2017, October 8–12). Double-sided ion thruster for contactless space debris removal: Experimental results (IEPC-2017-261). Paper presented at the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. LINK PDF
  • Smirnova, M., Mingo Perez, A., Feili, D., Dobkevicius, M., & Loeb, H. W. (2017, October 8–12). Design, manufacturing and characterisation of the Impulse Transfer Thruster for an Ion Beam Shepherd Mission: Results of 3-years FP7 project LEOSWEEP (IEPC-2017-509). Paper presented at the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. LINK PDF
  • Dobkevicius, M., Feili, D., Smirnova, M., & Mingo Perez, A. (2016, May 2–6). Double-sided ion thruster for contactless space debris removal (SP2016_3125045). Paper presented at Space Propulsion 2016, Marriott Park Hotel, Rome, Italy. PDF