LPEP

Main Goals of the Project

The LPEP project aims to strengthen national capabilities in medium (~ 1 kW) and low (< 0.5 kW) power electric propulsion by advancing the development and maturation of Hall Effect Thrusters (HET) and related subsystems. The project focuses on enhancing design, diagnostics and testing competences while upgrading CIRA experimental infrastructures, most notably the Medium Scale Vacuum Chamber (MSVC) and the upcoming Small Scale Vacuum Chamber (SSVC) dedicated to cathode and micro-thrusters research. LPEP includes the development of laboratory thrusters, the investigation of plasma phenomena through advanced optical diagnostics and the consolidation of a competitive experimental platform capable of supporting industry, academia and research institutions in the development of cutting-edge electric propulsion technologies.

CIRA Activities in the Project

Within the LPEP project, CIRA plays a central role in all technical phases, from thruster design to experimental testing. At the MSVC facility, one of the most advanced space simulators in Europe dedicated to electric propulsion, several experimental test campaigns have been carried out on the Hall effect thrusters of the CRHET-250 series. In particular, the MK1 unit has completed performance and endurance characterization, while the MK2 unit has been successfully started up and is currently undergoing characterization. During these tests, thermographic acquisitions of the CR-HET 250 subsystems were also performed. CIRA has also designed and manufactured the experimental CR-CAT cathode, intended to be integrated with the in-house–developed thrusters. In parallel, infrastructure upgrades continue: the Small Scale Vacuum Chamber (SSVC), a test chamber dedicated to cathodes and micro-thrusters, is currently being installed. Activities also include the development of diagnostic tools, such as CRDS technology, numerical models (the HYPICFLU2 code), methods for reliable and accurate thrust measurement, and experimental procedures supporting research and test standardization.

General Project Information

Funding Programme: National Aerospace Research Program (PRO.R.A.) 

Start Date: 01/01/2022; End Date: 31/12/2031

Coordinating Organization: CIRA

Partners: Angelantoni Test Technologies, TSS

CIRA Contact: Francesco Battista, f.battista@cira.it