Last month another milestone has been reached in the development of SITAEL’s low power Hall Effect Thruster system. The HT100 – HC1 thruster unit has been successfully operated with the AST GmbH micro Flow Control Unit (µFCU); a solid basis for a completely European, ITAR-free electric propulsion system for the Italian Company and a “first time with an HET” for the German FCU.

HT100 Hall effect thruster has a nominal power of 175 W, can operate efficiently in a power range between 100 W and 300 W, and demonstrated a lifetime in excess of 2200 hours. The cathode, HC1, has been designed as a perfect match for this thruster, works at a nominal current of 0.7 A and has an integrated heater to ease the start-up phase.

SITAEL and AST will continue their collaboration in the electric propulsion field, at commercial and research and development level.