Advancing iodine thruster technology: insights and objectives of project BOOST
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.
Authors
- Mirko Magarotto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3194-0308)
- Antonella Caldarelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0230-162X)
- Fabio Nichele
- Elena Toson
- Elizabeth Gutierrez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3774-2302)
- Giacomo Silvagni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0873-0919)
- Daniele Pavarin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2225-0751)
- Simone Di Fede (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7260-2578)
- Georg Herdrich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-762X)
- Paola De Carlo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8265-9823)
- Nicolas Bellomo
- Ruth Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1378-4361)
- Riccardo Mantellato
- Nabil Souhair (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0272-4769)
- Margherita Cardi
- Fabio Parigi
- Andreas Wiegand
- Fabiana Milza
- Stéphane Mazouffre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8281-5128)
- Federico x Cescon
- Fabrizio Ponti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2887-7413)
- Raoul Andriulli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7880-3741)
- Alessio Laudani
- Aurelio Kaluthantrige (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8685-3407)
- Jonathan Skalden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9309-4957)
- Alfredo Marianacci
- Mihai Pripasu
- Francesco Felicioni
- Lorenzo Suozzi
- Lorenzo Tonon
Institutions
- University of Stuttgart (DE)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Stuttgart Technical University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- Center of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects (RO)
- International University of Rabat (MA)
- Ospedale Monaldi (IT)
- Institut de Combustion Aérothermique Réactivité et Environnement (FR)
- International University College of Turin (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Electric Propulsion
- Published
- 2025-06-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s44205-025-00132-2
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.92
Funders
- European Commission
- Nanyang Technological University
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme