Advancing iodine thruster technology: insights and objectives of project BOOST

Abstract

Recently, BOOST (Building blOcks for iOdine thruSTers) a research initiative funded by the European Union (GA-101135216), kickstarted. The primary goal of BOOST is to advance and endorse iodine electric propulsion technology, positioning it as a crucial element to enhance the SmallSat market. In the last decade, SmallSats (under 500 kg) have transformed the space market by offering much more affordable access to space than medium-to-large systems. This trend is anticipated to grow in the coming years. Solid iodine propellant has shown potential as a key technology for establishing Electric Propulsion (EP) in the SmallSat sector. However, the broad adoption of this technology is still limited by its low maturity. To lay the foundation for future commercialization of iodine-based EP, the BOOST project will employ a modular approach in order to tackle the development of fundamental building blocks for this type of propulsion.