EPIC Workshop 2023

EPIC – Workshop 2023

LOCATION: NAPLES, ITALY

The EPIC consortium is pleased to announce that the EPIC Workshop 2023 on SRC H2020 “Space Electric Propulsion” activities will be held at the “Città della Scienza” conference centre in Naples, Italy on May 9-12 2023. Following the workshop, a lecture series with relevant presentations in the field of space electric propulsion is planned. Furthermore, there will be the opportunity for start-ups to enter into discussion with representatives from industry and institutional bodies.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Here you can find the FINAL program for the workshop.

EPIC 9-12 May 2023 – Final ProgramDownload

SCOPE OF THE WORKSHOP

The activities of the EPIC consortium will be presented to the EP community and stakeholders. The main purpose of this workshop is not only the outline of progress and activities of the EPIC consortium but mostly the collection of future vision, needs and requirements for the development of EP systems and technologies in order to consolidate the EP roadmap. Due to the scope of the workshop a fully in-presence participation is recommended, nevertheless a livestream broadcast will be also arranged but please note that interactions with the workshop attendees will be not possible real time.

CALL FOR ABSTRACT

Researchers are encouraged to submit abstracts, either for oral or poster presentation. Abstracts could refer to modelling and simulation capabilities, testing activities or in-flight experiences. Proposals in these relevant topics are expected:

  • Low power EP
  • Medium power EP
  • High power EP
  • Cubesat EP
  • Novel and hybrid concepts

The full program will include moreover the following contents:

  • Progress and activities of the EPIC consortium
  • Keynote speeches and stakeholder expectation on electric propulsion
  • Roundtables and stakeholder interaction for roadmap consolidation
  • Exhibition and networking

SCHEDULE

Opening of call for abstract and participation registration15/02/2023
Deadline for abstract submission15/03/2023
Notification of abstract acceptance to authors31/03/2023
Deadline for registration and final program30/04/2023
Workshop opening09/05/2023
Workshop closeout12/05/2023

CONCLUSIONS

  1. The work of EPIC during the last 9 years has enabled multiple projects to achieve the objectives in line with the PSA EPIC roadmap that have paved the way of and allowed the current successful status of the electric propulsion in Europe.
  2. Hall effect thrusters have a leading position in the GEO market that needs still to be supported by R&D effort to keep their position and win other segments,  while HEMPT, gridded ion engines and FEEPs are the other most mature technologies in electric propulsion that are likely entering the market.
  3. Many constellations have baselines low power electric propulsion and European EP products are now available or in trend to be ready.
  4. Qualification procedures are today very expensive and new ways to carry out these activities must be found such as the use of modelling.
  5. Cubesat market is growing in thousands of satellites of which half may have electric propulsion.
  6. New space companies require fast and low cost activities to get into the market. Governments and Agencies need to deal with this fact and help this emergent sector with simplifying the bureaucracy, continuing supporting them financially, give them opportunities of IOD/IOV flights and give them access to space experts and specific facilities when requested.
  7. Roadmaps must be continuously updated to help the funding agencies and European industry together with a good coordination of the different activities.
  8. Development of EP systems using new propellants affordable and environmentally have to be used to ensure the competitivity, xenon is today too expensive.
  9. R&D effort for non-dependence of European EP systems, products and components must be pursued due to the current political situation.
  10. Qualification process and rules need to be adapted (for initial and delta qualification of EP systems) to allow focusing on the customers priorities for better time to market and permit a better tailoring of ECSS with regard to risk, reliability and costs.
  11. Qualification process and rules need to be adapted (for initial and delta qualification of EP systems) to allow focusing on the customers priorities for better time to market and permit a better tailoring of ECSS with regard to risk, reliability and costs.

We thank you your participation in the 7th workshop of EPIC.