Thales

Thales Alenia Space Belgium has announced the qualification of its new-generation PPU Mk3 power supply units for the plasma thrusters to be equipped on upcoming all-electric satellites.

In the recent years, plasma or electric propulsion has emerged as a solution for satellite attitude control and the final stage of orbital positioning.

This technology enables to launch lighter and higher capacity satellites as the weight of propellant carried onboard becomes significantly reduced.

The electric propulsion technology replaces large quantity of propellants required for traditional propulsion systems with a small quantity of xenon gas for plasma thrusters, thereby enabling launch of lighter and higher capacity satellites.

Designed to power 5kW thrusters, the newly qualified PPU Mk3 can provide electrical power to plasma thrusters for all-electric versions of new telecom satellites and is compatible with all plasma thrusters available in the market.

Thales has so far provided 35 old-generation PPU units for 1.5kW to 2.5kW plasma thrusters to three telecommunications satellites manufacturers in Europe.

"Thanks to support from the Belgian Government, and within the scope of the European Space Agency’s ARTES programme, we have successfully developed and qualified this new-generation product."

The company’s Belgium division provided one of the first power supply units for plasma thrusters for Europe’s first lunar probe, the Smart-1.

Thales Alenia Space Belgium sales and programmes vice-president Patrick Bury said: "Thanks to support from the Belgian Government, and within the scope of the European Space Agency’s ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme, we have successfully developed and qualified this new-generation product."

The company also stated that 15 PPU Mk3 units have already been selected for all-electric satellite platforms, including six for Spacebus NEO satellites ordered to Thales Alenia Space.

Said to be Thales’ new line of platforms for geostationary telecommunications satellites, Spacebus NEO can accommodate more than 1,400kg payloads and can handle over 16kW of power.


Image: PPU Mk3 units will be equipped with six Spacebus NEO satellites to be built by Thales Alenia Space. Photo: courtesy of Thales Group.