The iFACT-MP project, which stands for iodine-fed advanced Cusp field Thruster for Mid-Power, commenced in January 2024. This 24-month initiative, funded by HADEA, aims to strengthen Europe’s leading role in iodine electric propulsion (EP). Its main goal is to develop a thruster subsystem that utilizes iodine fuel within the 3-5 kW power range, while also addressing all essential components necessary for the successful implementation of an iodine EP subsystem.
The IFACT-MP project has been highly active this season, stepping up dissemination, community engagement, and technical exchange across Europe. Highlights include a string of targeted social posts and event participations showcasing research progress, successful demonstrations, and stakeholder outreach designed to accelerate uptake of our innovations.
The IFACT-MP “Ask the Researcher” series continues with two new engaging episodes, offering viewers an inside look into the minds behind the project’s cutting-edge advances in electric propulsion and manufacturing innovation. In each episode, our experts break down complex topics into accessible insights, sharing their motivations, current challenges, and the breakthroughs shaping their work.
The IFACT-MP “Iodine Thrusters & Thoughts” series continues to shed light on the transformative potential of iodine as a propellant for next-generation spacecraft. By exploring its unique characteristics, performance advantages, and integration challenges, the series offers a deeper understanding of how iodine-based propulsion can enable more efficient, compact, and sustainable satellite missions. Each episode brings forward expert perspectives, practical considerations, and forward-looking reflections, helping to demystify this emerging technology and highlight its growing relevance in Europe’s space innovation landscape.
Finally, the IFACT-MP consortium successfully wrapped up two highly productive days of collaboration during its Technical Review Review (TRR) and Progress Meeting, hosted jointly by the University of Pisa and Aerospazio. The gathering brought together partners from across the project to evaluate ongoing work, align next steps, and reinforce the strong cooperative spirit that drives IFACT-MP forward. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the laboratories of the University of Pisa and Aerospazio, gaining first-hand insight into the experimental setups, testing environments, and technologies supporting the project’s innovation goals.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.