Plasma
(electric)
propulsion
has
emerged
in
recent
years
as
the
benchmark
solution
for
satellite
attitude
control
and
the
final
phase
of
orbital
positioning.
By
considerably
reducing
the
weight
of
propellant
that
has
to
be
carried
onboard,
this
technology
means
being
able
to
launch
lighter
and/or
higher
capacity
satellites.
The
large
quantity
of
propellants
needed
for
conventional
propulsion
systems
has
been
replaced
by a
small
quantity
of
xenon
gas
for
plasma
thrusters.
Thales
Alenia
Space
Belgium’s
expertise
in
power
supply
units
for
plasma
thrusters
has
been
recognized
for
over
16
years.
One
of
the
first
units
delivered
was
used
on
the
legendary
Smart-1,
Europe’s
first
lunar
probe.
Thirty-five
previous-generation
PPU
units
for
1.5
to
2.5
kW
plasma
thrusters
have
already
been
delivered
to
Europe’s
three
largest
manufacturers
of
telecommunications
satellites.
Thales
Alenia
Space
Belgium
developed
a
new-generation
unit
that
reflects
customer
feedback
and
changing
market
requirements.
The
Belgian
subsidiary
of
French-Italian
company
Thales
Alenia
Space
developed
a
new
avionics
system
for
satellite
power
management,
providing
unprecedented
performance,
flexibility
and
lightness.
The
recently
qualified
PPU
Mk3
will
provide
electrical
power
to
the
plasma
thrusters
that
handle
orbital
positioning
and
stationkeeping
on
all-electric
versions
of
new
telecom
satellites.
This
new
unit
is
designed
to
power
thrusters
in
the
5 kW
class,
and
will
be
compatible
with
all
plasma
thrusters
now
on
the
market.
“Thanks
to
support
from
the
Belgian
government,
and
within
the
scope
of
the
European
Space
Agency’s
ARTES
program
(Advanced
Research
in
Telecommunications
Systems),
we
have
successfully
developed
and
qualified
this
new-generation
product,”
said
Patrick
Bury,
Vice
President,
Sales
and
Programs
at
Thales
Alenia
Space
Belgium.
“All
of
our
engine-maker
partners
congratulated
us
on
the
results
of
tests
of
our
PPU
Mk3
with
different
5-kW
class
plasma
thrusters.”
